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THE 


MIND  AND  WOKDS 

OF 

,JESTJS; 

AUD 

THE  FAITHFUL  PROMISER. 


BY   THB 

REV.  J.  R.  MACDUFF,  D.  D., 

AurnoR  OK  "the  morning  and  night  watches,"  '*bow 

IN  THE  CLOUD,'"   "  FOOTSTEPS  OF  ST.  PAUL,"  BTC. 


NEW  YORK  : 

ROBERT  CARTER   «fc   BROTHERS 
No.   580   BEOA.DWAY. 

18V1. 


€jie  3Hin^  nf  ^mm. 


The  Mint)  of  Jesus  I  Wliat  a  study  is  this  !  To  attaiu  a 
dim  reflection  of  it,  is  the  ambition  of  angels — higher  they 
cannot  soar.    "  To  be  conformed  to  the  image  of  His  Son  !" 

it  is  the  end  of  God  in  the  predestination  of  His  Church 

from  all  eternity.  "  We  shall  be  like  Him  I" — it  is  the  Bible 
picture  of  heaven  I 

But  how  lofty  such  a  standard  ?  How  all  creature  perfec- 
tion shrinks  abashed  and  confounded  before  a  D  "me  por- 
traiture like  this  I  He  is  the  true  '*  Angel  standing  in  the 
sun,"  who  alone  projects  no  shadow ;  so  bathed  m  the 
glories  of  Deity  that  likeness  to  Him  becomes  like  the  light 
in  which  He  is  shrouded, — "  no  man  can  approach  unto  it." 
May  we  not,  however,  seek  at  least  to  approximate,  though 
we  cannot  adequately  resemble?  It  is  impossible  on  earth 
to  associate  with  a  fellow-being  without  getting  in  some 
degree  assimilated  to  him.  So,  the  more  we  study  "the 
Mind  of  Christ,"  the  more  we  are  in  His  company — holding 
converse  with  Him  as  our  best  and  dearest  friend — catching 
ap  His  holy  looks  and  holy  deeds— the  more  shall  we  be 
"  transformed  into  the  same  image." 

"Consider,"  says  the  Great  Apostle,  (literally  'gaze  on') 
"  Christ  Jesus"  (Heb.  iii.  1).  Study  feature  by  feature,  linea- 
jnent  by  lineament,  of  that  Peerless  Examplar.  "  Gaze"  oa 
the  Son  of  Righteousness,  till,  like  gazing  long  en  the  natural 


4  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

sun,  you  carry  away  with  you  on  your  spiritual  vision, 
dazzling  images  of  His  brightness  and  glory.  Though  He  be 
the  Archetype  of  all  goodness,  remember  He  is  no  shadowy 
model, — though  the  Infinite  Jehovah,  He  was  "  the  Man 
Christ  Jesus." 

We  must  never,  indeed,  forget  that  it  is  not  the  mind,  but 
iha  work  of  Immanuel  which  lies  at  the  foundation  of  a 
sinner's  hope.  He  must  be  known  as  a  Saviour,  before  He 
is  studied  as  an  Example.  His  doing  and  dying  is  the  centre 
jewel,  of  which  all  the  virtues  of  His  holy  life  are  merely 
the  setting.  But  neither  must  we  overlook  the  Scripture 
obligation  to  walk  in  His  footsteps  and  imbibe  His  Spirit,  for 
"  if  any  man  have  not  the  Spirit  of  Chnst,  he  is  none  of  His  I" 

Oh,  that  each  individual  Christian  were  more  Saviour-like ; 
that,  in  the  manifestation  of  a  holy  character  and  heavenly 
demeanor,  it  might  be  said  in  some  feeble  measure  of  the 
faint  and  imperfect  reflection — "  Such  was  Jesus!" 

How  far  short  we  are  of  such  a  criterion,  mournful  expe- 
rience can  testify.  But  it  is  at  least  comforting  to  know  that 
there  is  a  day  coming,  when,  in  the  full  vision  and  fruition 
of  the  Glorious  Original,  .he  exhortation  of  our  motto-verso 
will  bo  needed  no  more  ;  when  we  shall  be  able  to  say,  io 
the  words  of  an  inspired  apostle, 

'*  We  have  the  mind  of  Chkssi  !" 


THE  MIND    OF   JESUS. 


1st  Morning  of  Month. 

"  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  I  have  compassioa  on  the  multitude." — IIark  vm.  2. 

^  .       What   a   pattern   to  His 

passion  of  Jesus !  He  found  the  world 
He  came  to  save  a  moral  Bethesda.  The 
wail  of  suffering  humanity  was  every- 
where borne  to  His  ear.  It  was  His 
delight  to  walk  its  porches,  to  pity, 
relieve,  comfort,  save !  The  faintest 
cry  of  misery  arrested  His  footsteps — 
stirred  a  ripple  in  this  fountain  of  In- 
finite Lo^e.  Was  it  a  leper, —  that 
dreaded  name  which  entailed  a  life-long 
exile  from  friendly  looks  and  kindly 
words  ?  There  was  One,  at  least,  wlio 
had  tones  and  deeds  of  tenderness  for 
the  outcast.  ''  Jesus,  being  moved  with 
compassion,  put  forth  His  hand  and 
touched  him."  Was  it  some  blind  beg- 
gars   on   the   Jericho   highway,   grop- 


6  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

ing  iu  darkness,  pleading  for  help? 
Jesm  stood  still,  and  had  compassion  on 
them,  and  touched  their  eyes ! "  Wag 
it  the  speechless  pleadings  of  a  widow's 
tears  at  the  gate  of  Nain,  when  she  fol- 
lowed her  earthly  pride  and  prop  to  the 
grave  ?  "  When  the  Lord  saw  her,  He 
had  compassion  on  her,  and  said,  Weep 
not ! "  Even  when  He  rebukes,  the 
bow  of  compassion  is  seen  in  the  cloud, 
or  rather,  that  cloud,  as  it  passes,  dis- 
solves in  a  rain-shower  of  mercy.  He 
pronounces  Jerusalem  "  desolate, ^^  but 
the  doom  is  uttered  amid  a  flood  of 
anguished  sorrow ! 

Reader  !  do  the  compassionate  words 
and  deeds  of  a  tender  Saviour  find  any 
feeble  echo  and  transcript  in  yours  ? 
As  you  traverse  in  thought  the  wastes 
of  human  wretchedness,  does  the  spec- 
tacle give  rise,  not  to  the  mere  emo- 
tional feeling  which  weeps  itself  away  in 
sentimental  tears,  but  to  an  earnest  de- 
sire to  do  something  to  mitigate  the  suf* 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  7 

ferings  of  woe-worn  humanity?  How 
vast  and  world-wide  the  claims  on  your 
compassion  I — now  near,  now  at  a  dis- 
tance— the  unmet  and  unanswered  cry 
of  perishing  millions  abroad  —  the 
heathendom  which  lies  unsuccoured  at 
your  own  door — the  public  charity  lan- 
guishing—the mission  staff  dwarfed  and 
crippled  from  lack  of  needful  funds — a 
suffering  district — a  starving  family — 
a  poor  neighbour — a  helpless  orphan 
— it  may  be,  some  crowded  hovel, 
where  misery  and  vice  run  riot — or 
some  lonely  sick-chamber,  where  the 
dim  lamp  has  been  wasting  for  dreary 
nights — or  some  desolate  home  which 
death  has  entered,  where  "  Joseph  is 
not,  and  Simeon  is  not,"  and  where 
some  sobbing  heart,  under  the  tattered 
garb  of  poverty,  mourns,  unsolaced  and 
unpitied,  its  "loved  and  lost/'  Are  there 
none  such  within  your  reach,  to  whom  a 
trifling  pittance  would  be  as  an  angel  of 
mercy?   How  it  would  hallow  and  en- 


8  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

hance  all  you  possess,  were  you  to  seet 
lo  live  as  almoner  of  Jehovah's  boun- 
ties !  If  He  has  given  you  of  this  world's 
substance,  remember  it  is  bestowed, 
not  to  be  greedily  hoarded  or  lavishly 
squandered.  Property  and  wealth  are 
talents  to  be  traded  on  and  laid  out  for 
the  good  of  others — sacred  trusts,  not 
selfishly  to  be  e7ijo7jed,  but  generously 
to  be  employed. 

"  The  poor  are  the  representatives  of 
Jesus,  their  wants  He  considers  as  His 
own,"  and  He  will  recompense  accord- 
ingly. The  feeblest  expression  of 
Christian  pity  and  love,  though  it  be 
but  the  widow's  mite,  or  the  cup  of  cold 
water,  or  the  tindly  look  and  word 
when  tliere  is  neither  mito  nor  cup  to 
give,  yet,  if  done  in  His  name,  it  is 
entered  in  the  "  book  of  life  "  as  a  "  loan 
to  the  Lord  ;  "  and  in  that  day  when 
"  the  books  are  opened,"  the  loan  will 
be  paid  back  with  usury. 

"ARM  TOCRSELVES   LIKEAVISE  WITH  TITE  SAM¥   MINI)." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 


2d  MOKNINCL 

**  Let  this  mind  hs  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus."   , 

"  Not  my  will,  but  Thine  be  done  I  " — Luke  xxn.  42. 

jrt  ♦  ,♦  Where  was  there  ever  re- 
-^,^^^Pf|^^sigiiation  like  tliis?  The 
III  'mm,  life  of  Jesus  was  one  long 
martyrdom.  From  Bethlehem's  manger 
to  Calvary's  cross,  there  was  scarce  one 
break  in  the  clouds  ;  these  gathered 
more  darkly  and  ominously  around  Him 
till  they  burst  over  His  devoted  head 
as  He  uttered  His  expiriag  cry.  Yet 
throughout  this  pilgrimage  of  sorrow 
no  murmuring  accent  escaped  His  lips. 
The  most  suffering  of  all  suffering  lives 
was  one  of  uncomplaining  submission. 

"  Not  m?/  will,  but  Thi/  will,"  was  the 
motto  of  this  wondrous  Being !  When 
He  came  into  the  world  He  thus  an- 
nounced His  advent,  "  Lo,  I  come,  I 
delight  to  do  Thy  will,  0  my  God !  " 
When  He  left  it,  we  listen  to  the  same 


10  THE    MIND    OF   JESUS. 

prayer  of  blended  agony  and  acquies- 
cence, "  0  my  Father,  if  it  be  possible 
let  this  cup  pass  from  me !  Nevertheless 
not  as  I  ivill,  but  as  Tliou  tviltJ^ 
_  Reader !  is  this  mind  also  in  you  ? 
fAh,  what  are  your  trials  compared  to 
Mis  !  What  the  ripples  in  your  tide  of 
woe,  compared  to  the  wares  and  billows 
which  swept  over  Him!  If  He,  the 
spotless  Lamb  of  God,  "  murmured 
not,"  how  can  you  murmur  ?  His  were 
the  sufferings  of  a  bosom  never  once 
darkened  with  the  passing  shadow  of 
guilt  or  sin.  Your  severest  sufferings 
are  deserved,  yea,  infinitely  less  than  de- 
served !  Are  you  tempted  to  indulge  in 
hard  suspicions,  as  to  God's  faithfulness 
and  love,  in  appointing  some  peculiar 
trial  ?  Ask  yourself,  Would  Jesus  have 
done  this?  Should  /  seek  to  pry  into 
"  the  deep  things  of  God,"  when  He,  in 
the  spirit  of  a  weaned  child,  was  satis- 
fied with  the  solution,  ^^Hven  so,  Father, 
for  so  it  seems  good  in  Thy  sight "  ? 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  11 

"Eveu  SO,  Father  f^^  Afflicted  ouel 
"  tossed  with  tempest,  and  not  com- 
forted," take  that  ivord  on  which  thy 
Lord  pillowed  His  suffering  head,  and 
make  it,  as  He  did,  the  secret  of  thy 
resignation. 

The  sick  child  will  take  the  bitterest 
draught  from  a  father^s  hand.  "  This 
cup  which  Thou,  0  God,  givest  me  to 
drink,  shall  I  not  drink  it  ?  "  Be  it 
mine  to  lie  passive  in  the  arms  of  Thy 
chastening  love,  exulting  in  the  assur- 
ance that  all  Thy  appointments,  though 
sovereign,  are  never  arbitrary,  but  that 
there  is  a  gracious  "  need  be  "  in  them 
all.  "  My  Fafher  !  "  my  Covenant  God ! 
the  God  who  spared  not  Jesus  /  It  may 
well  hush  every  repining  word. 

Drinking  deep  of  His  sweet  spirit  of 
submission,  you  will  be  able  thus  to 
meet,  yea,  even  to  welcome,  your  sorest 
cross,  saying,  "  Yes,  Lord,  all  is  well, 
just  because  it  is  Thy  blessed  will. 
Take  me,  use  me,  chasten  me,  as  seemeth 


12  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

good  in  Thy  sight.  My  will  is  resolved 
into  Thine.  This  trial  is  dark  ;  I  can- 
not see  the  '  why  and  the  wherefore '  of 
it — but  'not  my  will,  but  Thy  will ! ' 
The  gourd  is  withered  ;  I  cannot  see  the 
reason  of  so  speedy  a  dissolution  of  tlje 
loved  earthly  shelter ;  sense  and  sight 
ask  in  vain  why  these  leaves  of  earthly 
refreshment  have  been  doomed  so  soon 
to  droop  in  sadness  and  sorrow.  But 
it  is  enough.  "  The  Lord  prepared  the 
worm  ;  "  "  not  my  will,  but  Thy  will !  " 
( Oh,  how  does  the  stricken  soul  honour 
God  by  thus  being  dumb  in  the  midst 
of  dark  and  perplexing  dealings,  recog- 
nising in  these,  part  of  the  needed  dis- 
cipline and  training  for  a  sorrowless, 
sinless,  deathless  world;  regarding  every 
trial  as  a  link  in  the  chain  which  draws 
it  to  heaven,  where  the  whitest  robes 
will  be  found  to  be  those  here  baptized 
with  suffering,  and  bathed  in  tears  ! 

"ABM  YOURSELVES  UKEWTSB  WITH  THE  SAME  UnND." 


THE    MIND    OF    JESUS.  13 


t'  IIORNLVO 

"Let  this  mind  he  in  you,  which  wa    also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  Wist  ye  not  that  I  must  be  about  my  Father's   business  ?" 
— LUK£  u.  49. 

-,  ,  V  "  My  meat  and  m  j  drink 
«f^WM  are  to  do  the  will  of  Him 

*  '  *  that  sent  me,  and  to  finish 
His  work."  That  me  object  bi ought 
Jesus  from  heaven — that  one  object  He 
pursued  with  unflinching,  undeviating 
constancy,  until  He  coidd  say,  "It  is 
finished." 

However  short  man  comes  of  his  chief 
end,  "Glory  to  God  in  the  highest" 
was  the  motive,  the  rule,  and  exponent 
of  every  act  of  that  wondrous  life. 
With  us,  the  magnet  of  the  soul,  even 
when  truest,  is  ever  subject  to  partial 
oscillations  and  depressions,  trembling 
at  times  away  from  its  great  attraction- 
point.  His  never  knew  one  tremulous 
wavering  form  its  all-glorious  centre. 
With   him    there   were    no    ebbs    and 


14  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

flows,  no  fits  and  starts.  He  could  say, 
in  the  words  of  that  ])rophetic  psalm 
whicli  speaks  so  pre-eminently  of  Him- 
self, "  I  have  set  the  Lord  always  before 
me!" 

Reader!  do  you  feel  that  in  some 
feeble  measure  this  lofty  life-motto  of 
the  sinless  Son  of  God  is  written  on 
your  home  and  heart,  regulating  your 
actions,  chastening  your  joys,  quicken- 
ing your  hopes,  giving  energy  and 
direction  to  your  whole  being,  subordi- 
nating all  the  affections  of  your  nature 
to  their  high  destiny  ?  With  pure  and 
unalloyed  motives,  with  a  single  eye, 
and  a  single  aim,  can  you  say,  somewhat 
in  the  spirit  of  His  brightest  follower, 
"  This  one  thing  I  do  ?"  Are  you  ready 
to  regard  all  you  have — rank,  name, 
talents,  riches,  influence,  distinctions — 
valuable,  only  so  far  as  they  contri- 
bute to  promote  the  glory  of  Him 
who  is  "  first  and  last,  and  all  in  all  ?" 
Seek  to  feel  that  your  heavenly  Father's 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  15 

is  not  only  a  business,  but  the  business 
of  life.  "  Whose  T  am,  and  whom  I 
serve," — let  tliis  be  the  superscription 
written  on  your  thoughts  and  deeds, 
your  employments  and  enjoyments,  your 
sleeping  and  waking.  Be  not,  as  the 
fixed  stars,  cold  and  distant ;  but  be 
ever  bathing  in  the  sunshine  of  con- 
scious nearness  to  Him  who  is  the  sun 
and  centre  of  all  happiness  and  joy. 

Each  has  some  appointed  work  to 
perform,  some  little  niche  in  the  spiritual 
temple  to  occupy.  Yours  may  be  no 
splendid  services,  no  flaming  or  brilliant 
actions  to  blaze  and  dazzle  in  the  eye  of 
man.  It  may  be  the  quiet  unobtrusive 
inner  work,  the  secret  prayer,  the  mor- 
tified sin,  the  forgiven  injury,  the  tri- 
fling act  of  self-sacrifice  for  God's  glory 
and  the  good  of  others,  of  which  no  q^q 
but  the  Eye  which  seeth  in  secret  is 
cognizant.  It  matters  not  how  small. 
Remember,  with  Him,  motive  dignifies 
action.     It  is  not  what  we  do,  but  how 


16  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

we  do  it.  He  can  be  glorified  in  Utile 
things  as  well  as  great  things,  and  bv 
nothing  more  than  the  daily  walk,  the 
daily  life. 

Beware  of  anything  that  would  in- 
terfere with  a  surrender  of  heart  and 
soul  to  His  service, — wordly  entangle- 
ments, indulged  sin,  an  uneven  walk,  a 
divided  heart,  nestling  in  creature  com- 
forts, shrinking  from  the  cross.  How 
many  hazard,  if  they  do  not  make  ship- 
wreck, of  their  eternal  hopes,  by  be- 
coming idlers  in  the  vineyard ;  lin- 
gerers, like  Lot ;  world-lovers,  like  De- 
mas;  "do-uothing  Christians,"  like  the 
inhabitants  of  Meroz!  The  command 
is,  "  Go  work  !"  Words  tell  what  you 
should  be ;  deeds  tell  what  you  are. 
Let  those  around  you  see  there  is  a 
reality  in  walking  with  God,  and  work.- 
ing  for  God ! 

'*  ARM  TOtTESEXTKS  UKEWKB  WITH  THE  SAME  MIND  " 


THE    MIND    OF   JESUS.  17 


4rH  MoRxma 

•*  let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus," 

'Then  said  Jesus,  Father,  forgive  them  ;  for  they  know  not 
what  thoy  do." — Luke  xxiii.  34. 

Mmmm  nf  f  ^7  ^    death-struggle 

^uiuvuiui,^>j  ui  j^g^g  ^gg^  made  to  save  a 

M\nxm'  friend.  A  dying  Saviour 
gathers  up  His  expiring  breath  to  plead 
for  His  foes  !  At  the  climax  of  His  own 
woe,  and  of  human  ingratitude — man- 
forsaken,  and  God-deserted — His  falter- 
ing voice  mingles  with  the  shout  of  His 
murderers, — "  Father,  forgive  them  ;  for 
they  know  not  what  they  do  I "  Had 
the  faithless  Peter  been  there,  could  he 
Lave  wondered  at  the  reply  to  a  former 
question, — "  Lord,  how  often  shall  my 
brother  sin  against  me,  and  I  forgive 
him, — till  seven  times  ?  "  Jesus  said 
unto  him,  "  I  say  not  unto  thee.  Until 
seven  times ;  but.  Until  seventy  times 
seven "  (Matt,  xviii.  21). 

Superiority  to  insult  and  ignominy, 
2 


18  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

with  c3ome,  proceeds  from  a  callous  and 
indifferent  temperament, — a  cold,  phleg- 
matic, stoical  insensibility,  alike  to  kind- 
ness or  unkindness.  It  was  not  so  with 
Jesus.  (The  tender  sensibilities  of  His 
holy  nature  rendered  Him  keenly  sensi- 
tive to  ingratitude  and  injury,  whether 
this  was  manifested  in  the  malice  of  un- 
disguised enmity,  or  the  treachery  of 
trusted  friendship.'N  Perhaps  to  a  noble 
nature  the  latter  of  these  is  the  more 
deeply  wounding.  Many  are  inclined  to 
forgive  an  open  and  unmasked  antago- 
nist, who  are  not  so  willing  to  forget  or 
forgive  heartless  faithlessness,  or  unre- 
quited love.  (But  see,  too,  in  this  re- 
spect, the  conduct  of  the  blessed  Re- 
deemer !  Mark  how  He  deals  with  His 
own  disciples  who  had  basely  forsaken 
Him  and  fled,  and  that,  too,  in  the  hour 
He  most  needed  their  sympathy !  No 
sooner  does  He  rise  from  the  dead  than 
He  hastens  to  disarm  their  fears  and 
to  assure  them  of  an  unaltered  and  mi- 


THE   MIND   OP   JESUS.  19 

alterable  affection.  "  Go  tell  mij  breth- 
ren" is  the  first  message  He  sends  ; 
"  Feace  he  unto  you,"  is  the  salutation  at 
the  first  meeting ;  "  GMldren  !  "  is  the 
word  with  which  He  first  greets  them  on 
the  shores  of  Tiberias?)  Even  Joseph, 
(the  Old  Testament  tyj/e  and  pattern  of 
generous  forgiveness,)  when  he  makes 
himself  known  to  his  brethren,  recalls 
the  bitter  thought,  "  Whom  ye  sold  into 
Egypt."  ^he  true  Joseph,  when  He 
reveals  Himself  to  His  disciples,  buries 
in  oblivion  the  memory  of  bygone  faith- 
lessness. He  meets  them  with  a  bene- 
diction. He  leaves  them  at  His  ascen- 
sion with  the  same — "He  lifted  uj3_His„ 
hanila, and  blessed  themj)^ 

Reader!  follow  in  all  this  the  spirit 
of  your  Lord  and  Master.  In  rising  from 
the  study  of  His  holy  example,  seek  to 
feel  that  with  you  there  should  be  no 
such  name,  no  such  word,  as  enemy/ 
Harbour  no  resentful  thought,  indulge 
in  no  bitter  recrimination.     Surrender 


20  THE   MIND   OF   JESUS. 

yourself  to  no  sullen  fretfulness.  Let 
"  the  law  of  kindness  "  be  in  your  heart. 
Put  the  best  construction  on  the  failings 
of  others.  Make  no  injurious  comments 
on  their  frailties  ;  no  uncharitable  in- 
sinuations. "  Consider  thyself,  lest  thoii 
algo  be  tempted."  When  disposed  at  any 
time  to  cherish  an  unforgiving  spirit  to- 
wards a  brother,  think,  if  thy  God  had 
retained  His  anger  for  ever,  where 
wouldst  thou  have  been  ?  If  He,  the  In- 
finite One,  who  might  have  spurned  thee 
for  ever  from  His  presence,  hath  had  pa- 
tience with  thee,  and  forgiven  thee  a?Z, 
wilt  tliou,  on  account  of  some  petty 
grievance  which  thy  calmer  moments 
would  pronounce  unworthy  of  a  thought, 
indulge  in  the  look  of  cold  estrange- 
ment, the  unrelenting  word,  or  unfor- 
giving deed  ?  "  If  any  man  have  a 
quarrel  against  any,  oven  as  Christ  for- 
gave you,  so  also  do  ye." 

"  ABM  YOURSELVES  IJKFWISE  -WTTH  IHE  SAME  MIND." 


THE  MIND   OF   JESUS.  21 


Sth  Moknino 

**  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  I  am  moek  and  lowly  in  heart." — Matt.  xi.  29. 

^j    .  There  is  often  a  beautiful 

;IxZBraIIt.01  blending  of  majesty  and  hu- 
mility, magnanimity  and  lowliness,  in 
great  minds.  The  mightiest  and  holiest 
of  all  Beings  that  ever  trod  our  world 
was  the  meekest  of  all.  The  Ancient  of 
Days  was  as  the  "  infant  of  days."  He 
who  had  listened  to  nothing  but  angel- 
melodies  from  all  eternity,  found,  while 
on  earth,  melody  in  the  lispings  of  an 
infant's  voice,  or  in  an  outcast's  tears ! 
No  wonder  an  innocent  lamb  was  His 
emblem,  or  that  the  anointing  Spirit 
came  down  upon  Him  in  the  form  of  the 
gentle  dove.  He  had  the  wealth  of 
worlds  at  His  feet.  The  hosts  of  heaven 
had  only  to  be  summoned  as  His  retinue. 
But  all  the  pageantry  of  the  worl.i^  all 


22  THE   M^D    OF   JESUS. 

its  dreams  of  carnal  glory,  had  for  Hira 
no  fascination.  The  Tempter,  from  a 
mountain-summit,  shewed  Him  a  wide 
scene  of  "  splendid  misery  ;"  but  He 
spurned  alike  the  thought  and  the  ad- 
versary away !  John  and  James  would 
call  down  fire  from  heaven  on  a  Samar- 
itan village  ;  He  rebukes  the  vengeful 
suggestion  !  Peter,  on  the  night  of  the 
betrayal,  cuts  off  the  ear  of  an  assassin  ; 
the  intended  Victim,  again,  only  chal- 
lenges His  disciple,  and  heals  Hia 
enemy ! 

Arraigned  before  Pilate's  judgment- 
seat,  how  meekly  He  bears  nameless 
wrongs  and  indignities  !  Suspended  on 
the  cross— the  execrations  of  the  mul- 
titude are  rising  around,  but  He  hears 
as  though  He  heard  them  not ;  they  ex- 
tract no  angry  look,  no  bitter  word — 
"  Behold  the  Lamh  of  God  !"  Need  we 
wonder  that  "  meekness"  and  "  poverty 
of  spirit"  should  stand  foremost  in  His 
own    cluster    of    beatitudes ;   that  He 


THE   MIXD    OF   JESUS.  23 

should  select  this  among  all  His  other 
qualities  for  the  peculiar  study  and  imi- 
tation of  His  disciples, "  Learn  of  Me, 
for  I  am  meehf^  or  that  an  apostle 
should  exhort  "by  the  meekness  and 
gentleness  of  Christ"  ? 

How  different  the  world's  maxims, 
and  His!  The  ^tw/cZ's—"  Resent  the 
affront,  vindicate  honour  !"  His—''  Over 
come  evil  with  good  !'  The  world's — 
"  Only  let  it  be  when  for  jour  faults  ye 
are  buffeted  that  ye  take  it  patiently." 
jJis — "When  ye  do  well  and  suffer  for 
it,  ye  take  it  patiently  ;  this  is  acceptable 
with  God"  (1  Pet.  ii.  20). 

Reader !  strive  to  obtain,  like  your 
adorable  Lord,  this  "  ornament  of  a  meek 
and  quiet  spirit,  which,  in  the  sight  of 
God,  is  of  great  price."  Be  "  clothed" 
with  gentleness  and  humility.  Follow 
not  the  world's  fleeting  shadows  that 
mock  you  as  you  grasp  them.  If 
always  aspiring — ever  soaring  on  the 
wing — you  are  likely  to  become  discon- 


24  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

tented,  prond,  selfish,  time-serving.  In 
whatever  position  of  life  God  has  placed 
you,  be  satisfied.  What !  ambitious  to 
be  on  a  pinnacle  of  the  temple — a  higher 
place  in  the  Church,  or  in  the  world  ? — 
Satan  might  hurl  you  down  !  "Be  not 
high-minded,  but  fear."  And  with  re- 
spect to  others,  honour  their  gifts,  con- 
template tlieir  excellencies  only  to  imi- 
tate them.  Speak  kindly,  act  gently, 
"  condescend  to  men  of  low  estate." 

Be  assured,  no  happiness  is  equal  to 
that  enjoyed  by  the  "  meeh  Ghrisiiany 
He  has  within  him  a  perpetual  inner 
sunshine,  a  perennial  well-spring  of 
peace.  Never  ruffled  and  fretted  by 
real  or  imagined  injuries,  he  puts  the 
best  construction  on  motives  and  ac- 
tions, and  by  a  gentle  answer  to  un- 
merited reproach  often  disarms  wrath. 

"  ARM  YOURSELVES  LIKEWISE  WITH  THE  SAME  MIND." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  25 


Gth  JIoRMNa 
"Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in  Christ 
Jesus." 

«I  thank  Thee,  0  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth."— 
AUtt.  XI.  25. 

^,      ,  J.  ,  A  THANKFUL  Spirit  per- 

f  IjanktulntSS.  ^^^^^  ti,e  entire  life  of 

Jesus,  and  surrounded  with  a  heavenly 
halo  His  otherwise  darkened  path.  In 
moments  we  least  expect  to  find  it,  this 
beauteous  ray  breaks  through  the 
gloom.  In  instituting  the  memorial  of 
His  death,  He  "  gave  thanks  /"  Even 
in  crossing  the  Kedron  to  Gethsemanc, 
"  He  sang  an  hymn !" 

We  know  in  seasons  of  deep  sorrow 
and  trial  that  everything  wears  a  gloomy 
aspect.  Dumb  Nature  herself  to  the 
burdened  spirit  seems  as  if  she  partook 
in  the  hues  of  sadness.  The  life  of  Je- 
sus was  one  continuous  experience  of 
privation  and  woe — a  "  Valley  of  Baca," 
from  first  to  last ;  yet,  amid  accents  of 
plaintive  sorrow,  there  are  ever  heard 


26  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

subdued  undertones  of  tJianJcfulness  and 

joy  J 

Ah,  if  He,  tlie  suffering  "  Man  of  Sor- 
rows," could,  during  a  life  of  unparal- 
leled woe,  lift  up  His  heart  in  grateful 
acknowledgment  to  His  Father  in  heav- 
en, how  ought  the  lives  of  those  to  be 
one  perpetual  "  hymn  of  thankfulness," 
who  are  from  day  to  day  and  hour  to 
hour  (for  all  they  have,  both  tempo- 
rally and  spiritually)  pensioners  on 
God's  bounty  and  love  ! 

Reader !  cultivate  this  thankful  spirit  ; 
it  will  be  to  thee  a  perpetual  feast. 
There  is,  or  ought  to  be,  with  us  no  such 
thing  as  small  mercies;  all  are  great, 
because  the  least  are  undeserved.  In- 
deed, a  really  thankful  heart  will  ex- 
tract motive  for  gratitude  from  every- 
thing, making  the  most  even  of 
scanty  blessings.  St.  Paul,  when  in  his 
dungeon  at  Eome,  a  prisoner  in  chains, 
is  heard  to  say,  "I  have  all,  and 
abound  I" 


THE   MIND    OF    JESUS.  27 

Guard,  on  tlie  other  hand,  against 
that  spirit  of  continual  fretting  and 
moping  over  fancied  ills  ;  that  tempta- 
tion to  exaggerate  the  real  or  supposed 
disadvantages  of  our  condition,  magni 
fying  the  trifling  inconveniences  of 
every-day  life  into  enormous  evils. 
Think  rather  how  much  we  have  to  be 
thankful  for.  The  world  in  which  we 
live,  in  spite  of  all  the  scars  of  sin  and 
suffering  upon  it,  is  a  happy  world.  It 
is  not,  as  many  would  morbidly  paint 
it,  flooded  with  tears  and  strewn  with 
wrecks,  plaintive  with  a  perpetual  dirge 
of  sorrow.  True,  the  "  Everlasting 
Hills"  are  in  glory,  but  there  are  num- 
berless eminences  of  grace,  and  love, 
and  mercy  below  ;  many  green  spots  in 
the  lower  valley,  many  more  than  we 
deserve  I 

God  will  reward  a  thankful  spirit. 
Just  as  on  earth,  when  a  man  receives 
with  gratitude  what  is  given,  we  are 
more  disposed  to  give  again,  so  also, 


28  THE   MIXD    OF   JESUS. 

"  the  Lord  loYetli"  a  cheerful  "  receiver," 
as  well  as  a  cheerful  "giver." 

Let  ours,  moreover,  be  a  Gosjoel 
thankfulness.  Let  the  incense  of  a 
grateful  spirit  rise  not  only  to  the  Great 
Giver  of  all  good,  but  to  our  Covenant 
God  in  Christ.  Let  it  be  the  spirit  of 
the  child  exulting  in  the  bounty  and 
beneficence  of  his  Father^s  house  and 
home !  "  Giving  thanks  always  for  all 
things  unto  God  and  the  Father,  in  the 
name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ !" 

While  the  sweet  melody  of  gratitude 
vibrates  through  every  successive  mo- 
ment of  our  daily  being,  let  love  to  our 
adorable  Redeemer  show  for  lohom  and 
for  ivhat  it  is  we  reserve  our  notes  of 
loftiest  and  most  fervent  praise.  Thanks 
be  unto  God  for  His  unspeakable  Gift  I 

"  ABH    VOtmSELVBS   LIKEWISE   WITH  TIIB  SAiJB  MIND." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  29 


7  ra  MoRNiNQ. 

"  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  "was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

'  For  even  Christ  pleased  not  Himself." — Rom.  xv.  3. 


elnsdiisl) 


Too  leoribly  are  the  char- 
'^'-^^  acters  written  on  the 
fallen  heart  and  a  fallen  world — "  All 
seek  their  own !  "  Selfishness  is  the 
great  law  of  our  degenerated  nature. 
When  the  love  of  God  was  dethroned 
from  the  soul,  self  vaulted  into  the 
vacant  seat,  and  there,  in  some  one  of 
its  Proteus  shapes,  continues  to  reign. 
Jesus  stands  out  for  our  imitation  a 
grand  solitary  exception  in  the  midst 
of  a  world  of  selfishness.  His  entire 
life  was  one  abnegation  of  self ;  a  beau- 
tiful living  embodiment  of  that  charity 
which  "  seeketh  not  her  own."  He  who 
for  others  turned  water  into  wine,  and 
provided  a  miraculous  supply  for  the 
fainting  thousands  in  the  wilderness, 
exerted  no  such  miraculous  power  for 


30  THE  MIND   OF  JESUS 

His  own  necessities.  During  His  forty 
days'  temptation,  no  table  did  He  spread 
for  Himself,  no  booth  did  he  rear  for 
His  unpillowed  head.  Twice  do  we 
read  of  Him  shedding  tears — on  neither 
occasion  were  they  for  Himself.  The 
approach  of  His  cross  and  passion,  in- 
stead of  absorbing  Him  in  His  own  ap- 
proaching sufferings,  seemed  only  to 
elicit  new  and  more  gracious  promises 
to  His  people.  When  His  enemies  came 
to  apprehend  Him,  His  only  stipulation 
was  for  His  disciples'  release — "Let 
these  go  their  way."  In  the  very  act 
of  departure,  with  all  the  boundless 
glories  of  eternity  in  sight,  they  were 
still  all  His  care. 

Ah,  how  different  is  the  spirit  of  the 
world !  With  how  many  is  day  after 
day  only  a  new  oblation  to  that  idol 
which  never  darkened  with  its  shadow 
His  holy  heart ;  pampering  their  own 
wishes  ;  "  envying  and  grieving  at  the 
good  of  a  neiglibour  ; "  unable  to  brook 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  31 

the  praise  of  a  rival ;  establisliing 
tlieir  own  reputation  on  the  ruins  of 
another ;  thus  engendering  jealousy, 
discontent,  peevishness,  and  every  kin- 
dred unholy  passion. 

"  But  ye  have  not  so  learned  Christ !  " 
Reader!  have  you  been  sitting  at  the 
feet  of  Him  who  "  pleased  not  Him- 
self? "  Are  you  "  dying  daily  f — dying 
to  self  as  well  as  to  sin  ?  Are  you  ani- 
mated with  this  as  the  high  end  and 
aim  of  existence, — to  lay  out  3"our  time, 
and  talents,  and  opportunities,  for  God's 
glory,  and  the  good  of  your  fellow-men  ; 
not  seeking  your  own  interests,  but 
rather  ceding  these,  if,  by  doing  so, 
another  will  be  made  happier,  and  your 
Saviour  honoured  ?  You  may  not  have 
it  in  your  power  to  manifest  this  "  mind 
of  Jesus  "  on  a  great  scale,  by  enduring 
great  sacrifices  ;  nor  is  this  required. 
His  denial  of  self  had  about  it  no  repul- 
sive austerity  ;  but  you  can  evince  its 
holy  influence  and  sway,  bv  innumer- 


32  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

able  little  offices  of  kindness  and  good- 
will ;  taking  a  generous  interest  in  the 
welfare  and  pursuits  of  others,  or  en- 
gaging and  co-operating  in  schemes  for 
the  mitigation  of  human  misery. 

Avoid  ostentation, — another  repulsive 
form  of  self.  Be  willing  to  be  in  the 
shade  ;  sound  no  trumpet  before  you. 
The  evangelist  Matthew  made  a  great 
feast,  which  was  graced  by  the  presence 
of  Jesus  ;  in  his  Gospel  he  says  not  one 
word  about  it ! 

Seek  to  live  more  constantly  and  ha- 
bitually under  the  constraining  influence 
of  the  love  of  Jesus.  Selfishness  withers 
and  dies  beneath  Calvary. 

Ah,  believer !  if  Christ  had  "  pleased 
Himself,"  where  wouldst  thou  have 
been  this  day  ? 

**A]IU  rOTTBSSLTBS  LIIlKWISK  WITH  THE  SAIIfl  KIHD." 


THE   MIND    OP   JESUS.  33 


8th  Mornino 


"Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  whicli  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus. 

"  Jesus  said  unto  him,  It  is  written." — Matt.  iv.  7. 

^  ,    .    ,      ,     We   cannot   fail   to   be 

InkutMinn  tn  ^^^.^^^    j^  ^,^3    ^^^^^^ 

teaching,  with  his  constant  appeal  to 
the  Word  of  God.  While,  at  times.  He 
utters,  in  His  own  name,  the  authorita- 
tive behest,  "  Yerily,  verily,  /  say  unto 
you,"  He  as  often  thus  introduces 
some  mighty  work,  or  gives  intimation 
of  some  impending  event  in  His  own 
momentous  life.  "These  things  must 
come  to  pass,  that  tJie  Scriptures  he 
fulfilled,  ivliich  saith"  He  commands 
His  people  to  "  search  the  Scriptures  ;*' 
but  he  sets  the  example  by  searching 
and  submitting  to  them  Himself.  Wheth- 
er He  drives  the  money-changers  from 
their  sacrilegious  traffic  in  the  temple, 
or  foils  his  great  adversary  on  the  mount 


34  THE   KIND    OF   JESUfl. 

of  teDiptation,  lie  does  so  witli  the  same 
weapon,  ^^  It  is  written^  When  He 
rises  from  the  grave,  the  theme  of 
His  first  discourse  is  one  impressive 
tribute  to  the  value  and  authority  of  tho 
same  sacred  oracles.  The  disciples  on  the 
road  to  Emmaus  listen  to  nothing  but 
a  Bible  lesson.  "He  expounded  unto 
them  in  all  the  Scriptures  the  things 
concerning  Himself." 

How  momentous  the  instruction  here- 
in conveyed!  The  necessity  of  the 
absolute  subjection  of  the  mind  to  God's 
writtenWord — making  churches,  creeds, 
ministers,  books,  religious  opinion,  all 
subordinate  and  subservient  to  this — 
"  How  readest  thou?"  rebuking  the  phi- 
losophy, falsely  so  called,  that  would 
distort  the  plain  statements  of  Revela- 
tion, and  bring  them  to  the  bar  of  proud 
Reason. 

If  an  infallible  Redeeraer,  '•'  a  law  to 
Himself,"  was  submissive  in  all  respects 
to  the  "  ivriiten  law,"  shall  fallible  man 


THE  MIND   OF   JESUS.  35 

refuse  to  sit  with  the  teachableness  of  a 
little  child,  and  listen  to  the  Divine 
message  ?  There  may  be,  there  is,  in  the 
Bible,  what  Reason  staggers  at :  "we 
have  nothing  to  draw  witli,  and  the  well 
is  deep."  But  ^^TJnis  saith  the  Lord  "is 
enough.  Faith  does  not  first  ask  what 
the  bread  is  made  of,  but  eats  it.  It 
does  not  analyse  the  components  of  the 
living  stream,  but  with  joy  draws  the 
water  from  the  "  wells  of  salvation." 

Reader!  take  that  Word  as  "the 
lamp  to  thy  feet,  and  the  light  to  thy 
path."  In  days  when  false  lights  are 
hung  out,  there  is  the  more  need  of 
keeping  the  eye  steadily  fixed  on  the 
unerring  beacon.  Make  the  Bible  tho 
arbiter  in  all  difficulties^the  ultimate 
court  of  appeal.  Like  Mary,  "  sit  at 
the  feet  of  Jesus,"  willing  only  to  learn 
of  Him.  How  many  perplexities  it  would 
save  you !  how  many  fatal  steps  in  life 
it  would  prevent — how  many  tears! 
"  It  is  a  great  matter,"  says  the  noblest 


36  THE   MIND   OP   JESUS. 

of  modern  Christian  philosophers, 
"  when  the  mind  dwells  on  any  passage 
of  Scripture,  just  to  think  lioio  true  it 
isJ^  (Chalmer's  Life.) 

In  every  dubious  question,  when  the 
foot  is  trembling  on  debatable  ground, 
knowing  not  whether  to  advance  or 
recede,  make  this  the  final  criterion, 
"What  saith  the  Scripture?"  The 
world  may  remonstrate — erring  friends 
may  disapprove — Satan  may  tempt — in- 
genious arguments  may  explain  away  ; 
but,  with  our  finger  on  the  revealed 
page,  let  the  words  of  our  Great 
Example  be  ever  a  divine  formula  for 
our  guidance :  "  This  commandment 
have  I  received  of  my  Father !" 

'akm  yourselves  likevise  with  the  same  juhd." 


THE   mND    OF   JESUS.  37 


9tii  Mor>txo. 


**  Let  tWs  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus. 

«'  He  continued  all  niglit  in  prayer  to  God."— Luke  vi.  12. 

^  ,  We  speak  of  this  Cliris- 

^ratimnlntSS.   ^^^^  ^^^  ti,,t  Christian 

as  a  •'  man  of  prayer."  Jesus  was  emphat- 
ically so.  The  Spirit  was  "poured 
upon  Him  without  measure,"  yet — He 
prayed !  He  was  incarnate  wisdom, 
"  needing  not  that  any  should  teach 
Him."  He  was  infinite  in  His  power, 
and  boundless  in  His  resources,  yet — He 
'prayed  !  How  deeply  sacred  the  prayer- 
"ful  memories  that  hover  around  the  soli- 
tudes of  Olivet  and  the  shores  of  Tibe- 
rias !  He  seemed  often  to  turn  night  in- 
to day  to  redeem  moments  for  prayer, 
rather  than  lose  the  blessed  privilege. 

We  are  rarely,  indeed,  admitted  into 
the  solemnities  of  His  inner  life.  The 
veil  of  night  is  generally  between  us  and 
the  Great  High  Priest,  wl  en  He  entered 


38  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

"  the  holiest  of  all  f  but  we  have  enough 
to  reveal  the  depth  and  fervour,  the  ten- 
derness and  confidingness  of  this  blissful 
intercommunion  with  His  heavenly  Fa- 
ther. No  morning  dawns  without  His 
fetching  fresh  manna  from  the  mercy- 
seat.  "  He  wakeneth  morning  by  morn- 
ing ;  he  wakeneth  mine  ear  to  hear  as  the 
learned."  (Isa.  1.  4.)  Beautiful  descrip- 
tion ! — a  praying  Redeemer,  wakening, 
as  if  at  early  dawn,  the  ear  of  His  Father, 
to  get  fresh  supplies  for  the  duties  and 
the  trials  of  the  day !  All  His  public 
acts  were  consecrated  by  prayer, — His 
baptism,  His  transfiguration,  His  mira- 
cles, His  agony.  His  death.  He  breathed 
away  His  spirit  in  prayer.  "  His  last 
breatli,"  says  Philip  Henry,  "was  pray- 
ing breath." 

How  sweet  to  think,  in  holding  com- 
munion with  God — Jesus  drank  of  this 
very  brook !  He  consecrated  the  bend- 
ed knee  and  the  silent  chamber.  He 
rcfreslied  His  fainting  spirit  at  the  samo 


THE   MliVD    OF   JESUS.  39 

great  Fountain-head  from  which  it  is  life 
for  us  to  draw,  and  death  to  forsake. 

Eeader!  do  you  complain  of  your 
languid  spirit,  your  drooping  faith,  your 
fitful  affections,  your  lukewarm  love? 
May  you  not  trace  much  of  what  you 
deplore  to  an  unfrequented  chamber? 
The  treasures  are  locked  up  from  you, 
because  you  have  suffered  the  key  to 
rust ;  the  hands  hang  down,  because  they 
have  ceased  to  be  uplifted  in  prayer. 
Without  prayer! — It  is  the  pilgrim 
without  a  staff — the  seaman  without  a 
compass — the  soldier  going  unarmed 
and  unharnessed  to  battle. 

Beware  of  encouraging  what  indis- 
poses to  prayer — going  to  the  audience 
chamber  with  soiled  garments,  the  din 
of  the  world  following  you,  its  distract- 
ing thoughts  hovering  unforbidden  over 
your  spirit.  Can  you  wonder  tliat  the 
living  water  refuses  to  flow  through  ob- 
structed channels,  or  the  heavenly  light 
to  pierce  murky  vapours  ? 


40  THE    MIND    OF   JESUS. 

On  earth,  fellowship  with  a  lofty  order 
of  minds,  imparts  a  certain  nobility  to 
the  character ;  so,  in  a  far  higher  sense, 
by  communion  with  God  you  will  be 
transformed  into  His  image,  and  get  as- 
similated to  His  likeness.  Make  every 
event  in  life  a  reason  for  fresh  going  to 
Him.  If  difficulted  in  duty,  bring  it  to 
the  test  of  prayer.  If  bowed  down  with 
anticipated  trial, — "  fearing  to  enter  the 
cloud," — remember  Christ's  preparation, 
"  Sit  ye  here  while  I  go  and  jpray  yon- 
der." 

Let  prayer  consecrate  everything — 
your  time,  talents,  pursuits,  engage- 
ments, joys,  sorrows,  crosses,  losses. 
By  it,  rough  paths  will  be  made  smooth, 
trials  disarmed  of  their  bitterness,  en- 
joyments hallowed  and  refined,  the 
bread  of  the  world  turned  into  angels' 
food.  "  It  is  in  the  closet,"  says  Payson, 
"  the  battle  is  lost  or  won !  " 

"  AB.SrI  rOUBSElVES  rJKlCWISE  WTVH  THE  SAME  MINI)." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  41 


10th  Mor.vinq. 
*'  let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Je3us." 

"  And  walk  in  love,  as  Christ  also  hath  loved  us." — 
Eph.  v.  2. 

jv       i    rj     "Jesus,"  says    a  writer, 

Mmjm.  .(-i^g  ^-j^gg  Qf  2ove."  It 
was  the  element  in  which  He  moved  and 
walked.  He  sought  to  baptize  tlie  world 
afresh  with  it.  When  we  find  Him 
teaching  us  by  love  to  vanquish  an  ene- 
7ny,  we  need  not  wonder  at  the  tender- 
ness of  His  appeals  to  the  brethren  to 
"  love  one  another."  Like  a  fond  fa- 
ther impressing  his  children,  how  the 
Divine  Teacher  lins^ers  over  the  lesson, 
"  This  is  3Iy  commandment !  " 

If  selfishness  had  guided  His  actions, 
we  might  liave  expected  Him  to  de- 
mand all  His  people's  love  for  Himself. 
But  He  claims  no  such  monopoly.  He 
not  only  encourages  mutual  affection, 
Int  He  makes  it  the  badge  of  disciple- 


4:2  THE    MIND    OF    JESUS. 

Bliip  !  He  gives  them  at  once  its  meas- 
ure and  motive.  "  Love  one  another, 
as  I  have  loved  you!"  What  a  love 
was  that ! — it  reached  to  the  lowliest  and 
humblest, — "  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  to 
the  least  of  these,  ye  did  it  unto  ilfe." 

Ah !  if  such  was  the  Elder  Brother's 
love  to  His  younger  brethren,  what 
should  the  love  of  these  younger  broth- 
ers be  for  one  another!  How  hum- 
bling that  there  should  be  so  much  that 
is  sadly  and  strangely  unlike  the  spirit 
which  our  blessed  Master  sought  to  incul- 
cate alike  by  precept  and  example !  In- 
dividual Christians,  why  these  bitter 
estrangements,  these  censorious  words, 
these  harsh  judgments,  this  want  of  kind 
consideration  of  the  feelings  and  failings 
of  those  who  may  differ  from  you? 
Why  are  your  friendships  so  often  like 
the  summer  brook,  soon  dried  ?  You 
hope,  ere  long,  to  meet  in  glory. 
Doubtless,  when  you  enter  on  that  "  sab- 
bath of  love,"  many  a  greeting  will  be 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  43 

this,  "  Alas !  my  brother,  that  on  earth 
I  did  not  love  thee  more !" 

Do  3''ou  see  the  image  of  God  in  a 
professing  believer  ?  It  is  your  duty  to 
love  him  for  the  sake  of  that  image.  No 
church,  no  outward  livery,  no  denomi- 
national creed,  should  prevent  your  own- 
ing and  claiming  him  as  a  fellow-pilgrim 
and  fellow-heir.  It  has  been  said  of  a 
portrait,  however  poor  the  painting,  how- 
ever unfinished  the  style,  however  faulty 
the  touches,  however  coarse  and  unseem- 
ly the  frame,  yet  if  the  likeness  be  faithful, 
we  overlook  many  subordinate  defects. 
So  it  is  with  the  Christian  :  however 
plain  the  exterior,  however  rough  the 
setting,  or  even  manifold  the  blemishes 
still  found  cleaving  to  a  partially  sancti- 
fied natui^,  yet  if  the  Redeemer's  lil^e- 
ness  be  feebly  and  faintly  traced  there, 
we  should  love  the  copy  for  the  sake  of 
the  Divine  Original.  There  may  be 
other  bonds  of  association  and  inter- 
course linking  spirit  wHh  spirit ; — family 


44  THE  MIND   OF   JESUS. 

cies,  mental  congenialities,  intellectual 
tastes,  philanthropic  pursuits  ;  but  that 
which  ought  to  take  the  precedence  of 
all,  is  the  love  of  God's  image  in  the 
brethren.  What  will  heaven  be  but  this 
love  perfected — loving  Christ,  and  be- 
loved by  those  who  love  Him  ? 

Keader !  seek  to  love  Him  more,  and 
you  will  love  His  people  more.  John 
had  more  love  than  the  other  disciples. 
Why  ?  He  drank  deepest  of  the  love 
within  that  Bosom  on  which  he  delighted 
to  lean,  every  beat  of  which  was  love. 
"Walk,"  then,  "in  love!"  Let  it  be 
the  very  foot-road  you  tread  ;  let  your 
way  to  heaven  be  paved  with  it.  Soon 
shall  we  come  to  look  within  the  portal. 
Then  shall  every  jarring  and  dissonant 
note  be  merged  into  the  sublime  har- 
monies of  "  the  new  heavens  and  the 
new  earth,"  and  we  shall  all  "  see  eye 
to  eye !" 

"ABM  YOrRSEIATS   LIKEWISE   WITH  THE  SABIE  MINB." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  41- 


IItii  Mobninc 

"Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus. " 

Jesus  wept. — Johx  xi.  35. 

o  ,,       It  is  an  affecting  thing  to 

^I|ni|IETpil.  ggg  ^  G-reat  man  in  tears  I 
*^  Jesus  loept!  "  It  was  ever  His  delight 
to  tread  in  the  footsteps  of  sorrow — to 
heal  the  broken-hearted — turning  aside 
from  His  own  path  of  suffering  to  "  weep 
with  those  that  weep." 

Bethany  !  That  scene,  that  loord^  is 
a  condensed  volume  of  consolation  for 
yearning  and  desolate  hearts.  What  a 
majesty  in  those  tears !  He  had  just 
before  been  discoursing  on  Himself  as 
the  Resurrection  and  the  Life  —  the 
next  moment  He  is  a  Weeping  Man  by 
a  human  -  grave,  melted  in  anguished 
sorrow  at  a  bereaved  one's  side  !  Think 
of  the  funeral  at  the  gate  of  Nain,  read- 
ing its  lesson  to  dejected  myriads — "  Let 
thy  widows  trust  in  me  !"     Think  of  the 


46  THE   MIND   OP   JESUS. 

farewell  discourse  to  His  disciples,  when, 
muffling  all  His  own  foreseen  and  an* 
ticipated  sorrows,  He  thought  only  of 
soothing  and  mitigating  theirs  !  Think 
of  the  aifecting  pause  in  that  silent  pro- 
cession to  Calvary,  when  He  turns  round 
and  stills  the  sobs  of  those  who  are 
tracking  His  steps  with  their  weeping  I 
Think  of  that  wondrous  epitome  of 
human  tenderness,  just  ere  His  eyes 
closed  in  their  sleep  of  agony— in  the 
mightiest  crisis  of  all  time — when  filial 
love  looked  down  on  an  anguished  moth- 
er, and  provided  her  a  son  and  a  home ! 

Ah,  was  there  ever  sympathy  like  this ! 
Son  !  Brother  !  Kinsman !  Saviour  !  all 
in  one  !  The  majesty  of  Godhead  almost 
lost  in  the  teuderness  of  the  Friend. 
But  so  it  was,  and  so  it  is.  The  heart 
of  the  now  enthroned  King  beats  re- 
sponsive to  the  humblest  of  His  sorrow- 
stricken  people.  "  I  am  poor  and 
needy,  yet  the  Lord  carries  me  on  Hia 
heart  r  (margin). 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  47 

Let  us  "  go  and  do  likewise."  Let 
us  be  ready,  like  our  Lord,  to  follow 
the  beck  of  misery, — "  to  deliver  the 
needy  when  he  crieth,  the  poor  also, 
and  him  that  hath  no  helper."  Sym- 
pathy costs  but  little.  Its  recompense 
and  return  are  great,  in  the  priceless 
consolation  it  imparts.  Few  there  are 
who  undervalue  it.  Look  at  Paul — the 
weary,  jaded  prisoner, — chained  to  a 
soldier, — recently  wrecked,  about  to 
stand  before  Caesar.  He  reaches  Appii 
Forum  and  the  Three  Taverns,  dejected 
and  depressed.  Brethren  come  from 
Rome,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  to  offer 
their  sympathy.  The  aged  man  is 
cheered  !  His  spirit,  like  Jacob's,  "  re- 
vived !"  "  He  thanked  God,  and  took 
courage !  "- 

Reader !  let  "  this  mind,"  this  holy, 
Christ-like  habit  be  in  you,  which  was 
also  in  your  adorable  Master.  Delight, 
when  opportunity  occurs,  to  frequent 
the  house  of  mourning, — to  bind  up  the 


48  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

widow's  heart,  and  to  dry  the  orphan'^- 
tears.  If  you  can  do  nothing  else,  you 
can  whisper  into  the  ear  of  disconsolate 
sorrow  those  majestic  solaces,  which, 
rising  first  in  the  graveyard  of  Bethany, 
have  sent  their  undying  echoes  through 
the  world,  and  stirred  the  depths  of  ten 
thousand  hearts.  "  Exercise  your  souls," 
says  Butler,  "in  a  loving  sympathy  with 
sorrow  in  every  form.  Soothe  it,  min- 
ister to  it,  succour  it,  revere  it.  It  is 
the  relic  of  Christ  in  the  world,  an 
image  of  the  Great  Sufferer,  a  shadow 
of  the  cross.  It  is  a  holy  and  venerable 
thing." 

Jesus  Himself  "  looked  for  some  to 
take  'pity,  but  there  was  none  ;  and  for 
comforters,  but  He  found  none  !  "  It 
shows  how  even  He  valued  sympathy, 
and  that,  too,  in  its  commonest  form  of 
^^pity,^^  though  an  ungrateful  World  de- 
nied it. 

"arm   YOURSELVEa  LIKEWISK  WITn  ITIE  SAIIB  MIOT)." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  49 


12™   MORNINO. 

'*  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  whicli  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

'*Tho  Lord  tiiraed  and  looked  upon  Peter." — Luke  xxii.  6L 

^,K  ...  Jesus  never  spake  one  un- 
.  *\^^  I  ^H  necessarily  harsh  or  severe 
in  mmit  ^^^^^^  jje  had  a  divine 
sympathy  for  the  frailties  and  infirmities 
of  a  tried,  and  suffering,  and  tempted 
nature  in  others.  He  was  forbearing 
to  the  ignorant,  encouraging  to  the 
weak,  tender  to  the  penitent,  loving  to 
all, — yet  how  faithful  was  He  as  "  the 
Reprover  of  sin ! "  Silent  under  His  own 
wrongs,  with  what  burning  invective 
did  He  lay  bare  the  Pharisees'  masked 
corruption  and  hypocrisy  !  When  His 
Father's  name  and  temple  were  pro- 
faned, liow  did  He  sweep,  with  an  aveng- 
ing hand,  the  mammon-crowd  away,  re- 
placing the  super scriptioiT,  "  Holiness  to 
the  Lord,"  over  the  defiled  altars  1 
4 


50  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

Nor  was  it  different  Avitli  His  own 
disciples.  With  what  fidelity,  when 
rebuke  was  needed,  did  He  administer 
it :  the  withering  reprimand  conveyed, 
sometimes  by  an  impressive  loord  (Matt. 
XV i.  23) ;  som^etimes  by  a  silent  look 
(Lnke  xxii.  61).  "  Faithful  always  were 
the  wounds  of  this  Friend." 

Reader  !  art  thou  equally  faithful 
with  thy  Lord  in  rebuking  evil ;  not  with 
"  the  wrath  of  man,  which  worketh  not 
the  righteousness  of  God,"  but  with  a 
holy  jealousy  of  His  glory,  feeling,  with 
the  sensitive  honour  of  "  the  good  soldier 
of  Jesus  Christ,"  that  an  affront  offered 
to  Him  is  offered  to  thyself  ?  The 
giving  of  a  wise  reproof  requires  much 
Christian  prudence  and  delicate  discre- 
tion. It  is  not  by  a  rash  and  incon- 
siderate exposure  of  failings  that  we 
must  attempt  to  reclaim  an  erring  bro- 
tlier.  But  neither,  for  the  sake  of  a 
false  peace,  must  we  compromise  fidelity; 
even  friendship  is  too  dearly  purchased 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  51 

by  winking  at  sin.  Perhaps,  when 
Peter  was  led  to  call  the  Apostle  who 
Iionestly  reproved  him.  "  Our  beloved 
brother  Paul,"  in  nothing  did  he  love  his 
rebuker  more,  than  for  the  honest  bold- 
ness of  his  Christian  reproof.  If  Paul 
had,  in  that  crisis  of  the  Church,  with  a 
timidity  unworthy  of  him,  evaded  the 
ungracious  task,  what,  humanly  speak- 
ing, might  have  been  the  result  ? 

How  often  does  a  seasonable  repri- 
mand, a  faithful  caution,  save  a  lifetime 
of  sin  and  sorrow !  How  many  a  death- 
bed has  made  the  disclosure,  "  That  kind 
warning  of  my  friend  put  an  arrest  on 
my  career  of  guilt ;  it  altered  my  whole 
being  ;  it  brought  me  to  the  cross, 
touched  my  heart,  and,  by  God's  grace 
saved  my  soul ! "  On  the  other  hand, 
how  many  have  felt,  when  death  has 
put  his  impressive  seal  on  some  close 
earthly  intimacy,  "  This  friend,  or  that 
Mend, — I  might  have  spoken  a  solemn 
word  to  him  ;  but  now  he  is  no  more  ; 


52  THE   MIND   OF   JESUS. 

the  opportunity  is  lost,  never  to  be  re- 
called ! " 

Reader!  see  that  you  act  not  the 
spiritual  coward.  When  tempted  to  sit 
silent  when  the  name  of  God  is  slighted 
or  dishonoured,  think,  would  Jesus  have 
done  so  ? — would  He  have  allowed  the 
oath  to  go  unrebuked — the  lie  to  be 
uttered  unchallenged  —  the  Sabbath 
with  impunity  to  be  profaned  ?  Where 
there  is  a  natural  diffidence  which  makes 
you  shrink  from  a  more  bold  and  opcL 
reproof,  remember  much  may  be  done 
to  discountenance  sin,  by  the  silent  holi- 
ness of  demeanour,  which  refuses  to 
smile  at  the  unholy  allusion  or  ribald 
jest.  "  A  word  spoken  in  due  season, 
how  good  is  it !  "  "  Speak  gently,"  yet 
speak  faithfully  :  "  be  pitiful— be  cour- 
teous : "  yet  "  quit  you  like  men,  bo 
strong ! " 

"  ARM  YOURSELVES  LIKEWISE  -Wrra  THE  SAME  MIND." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  63 

ISth  Morninq 

*'  Let  this  mind  b3  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me  ?  " — Joh\  xxi.  15. 

^    M  No  word  here  of  the  erring 

^d^entlmBS  ^lisciple's  past  faithlessness  ; 
lu  ^vrulllvr.  — i^jg  guilty  cowardice — un- 
mentioned  ; — his  base  denial — his  oaths 
and  curses,  and  treacherous  desertion — 
all  unmentioned !  The  memory  of  a 
threefold  denial  is  suggested,  and  no 
more,  by  the  threefold  question  of  un- 
utterable tenderness,  "  Simon,  son  of 
Jonas,  lovest  thou  me  ?  "  When  Jesus 
finds  His  disciples  sleeping  at  the  gate 
of  Gethsemane,  He  rebukes  them  ;  but 
how  is  the  rebuke  disarmed  of  its 
poignancy  by  the  merciful  apology 
which  is  added — "  The  spirit  indeed  is 
willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak !  '^  How 
different  from  their  unkind  insinuation 
regarding  Him,  when,  in  the  vessel  on 
Tiberias,  "  He  was  asleep "' — *•  Master, 


54  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

carest  thou  not  that  we  perish ! "  The 
woman  of  Samaria  is  full  of  earthliness, 
carnality,  sectarianism,  guilt.  Yet  how 
gently  the  Saviour  speaks  to  her — how 
forbearingly,  yet  faithfully,  He  directs 
the  arrow  of  conviction  to  that  seared 
and  hardened  conscience,  till  He  lays  it 
bleeding  at  His  feet !  Truly,  "  He  will 
not  break  the  bruised  reed — He  will  not 
quench  the  smoking  flax."  By  "the 
goodness  of  God,"  He  would  lead  to  re- 
pentance. When  others  are  speaking 
of  merciless  violence,  He  can  dismiss 
the  most  guilty  of  profligates  with  the 
words,  "  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee ; 
go,  and  sin  no  more." 

Plow  many  have  an  unholy  pleasure 
in  finding  a  brother  in  the  wrong, — blaz- 
ing abroad  his  failings  ;  administeiing 
rebuke,  not  in  gentle  forbearance  and 
kindly  expostulation,  but  with  harsh 
and  impatient  severity !  How  beautifully 
did  Jesus  unite  intense  sensibility  to  sin, 
along  with  tenderest  compassion  for  the 


THE   MIx^D    OF   JESUS.  55 

sinner,  shewing  in  this  that  "  He  know- 
eth  our  frame  !  "  Many  a  scholar  needs 
gentleness  in  chastisement.  The  reverse 
would  crush  a  sensitive  spirit,  or  drive 
it  to  despair.  Jesus  tenderly  "  con- 
siders "  the  case  of  those  He  disciplines, 
"  tempering  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb." 
In  the  picture  of  the  good  shepherd 
bearing  home  the  wandering  sheep,  He 
illustrated  by  parable  what  He  had  often 
and  again  taught  by  His  own  example. 
No  word  of  needless  harshness  or  up- 
braiding uttered  to  the  erring  wanderer  I 
Ingratitude  is  too  deeply  felt  to  need 
rebuke !  In  silent  love,  "  He  lays  it  on 
His  shoulders  rejoicing." 

Eeader !  seek  to  mingle  gentleness  in 
all  your  rebukes  ;  bear  with  the  infir- 
mities of  others ;  make  allowance  for 
constitutional  frailties  ;  never  say  harsh 
things,  if  kind  things  will  do  as  well ; 
do  not  unnecessarily  lacerate  with  re- 
calling former  delinquencies.  In  re- 
proving another,  let  us  rather  feel  how 


56  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

much  we  need  reproof  ourselves.  "  Con- 
eider  thyself/'  is  a  searching  Scripture 
motto  for  dealing  with  an  erring  brother. 
Remember  thy  Lord's  method  of  silenc- 
ing fierce  accusation — "  Let  him  that  is 
without  sin  cast  the  first  stone."  More- 
over, anger  and  severity  are  not  tho 
successful  means  of  reclaiming  the  back- 
slider, or  of  melting  the  obdurate.  Like 
the  smooth,  stones  with  which  David 
smote  Goliath,  gentle  rebukes  are  gene- 
rally the  most  powerful.  The  old  fable 
of  the  traveller  and  his  cloak  has  a 
moral  here  as  in  other  things.  The 
genial  sunshine  will  effect  its  removal 
sooner  than  the  rough  tempest.  It  was 
said  of  Leigh  ton,  that  "  he  rebuked 
faults  so  mildly,  that  they  were  never 
repeated,  not  because  the  admonished 
were  afraid,  but  ashamed  to  do  so." 

"•'ARM  Y0UKSELVK3  UKEWISE  WITH  THE  SAME  MIND." 


THE   MIND   OF   JESUS.  57 


14th  MoRSDfa 

"let  this  mind  be  in  you,  whicli  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  Wh>  endured  such  concradiction  of  siiiners  against 
Himself." — Heb.  xii.  3. 

^  V  What  endurance  was 

perfect  love  in  the  midst  of  ingratitude 
and  coldness ;  perfect  rectitude  in  the 
midst  of  perjury,  violence,  fraud  ;  per- 
fect constancy  in  the  midst  of  contumely 
and  desertion ;  perfect  innocence,  con- 
fronting every  debased  form  of  depravity 
and  guilt ;  perfect  patience,  encounter- 
ing every  species  of  gross  provocation — 
"  oppressed  and  afflicted,  He  opened  not 
His  mouth  ! "  "  For  my  love  "  (in  return 
for  my  love), "  they  are  mine  adversaries ; 
buf^  (see  His  endurance  ! — the  only  spe- 
cies of  revenge  of  which  His  sinless  na- 
ture was  capable)  "  /  give  myself  unto 
prayer ! ''  (Ps.  cix.  4.) 

Reader !    '*  let  this  mind  be  in  you, 


58  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus ! "  The 
greatest  test  of  an  earthly  soldier's 
courage  is  patient  endurance!  The 
noblest  trait  of  the  spiritual  soldier  is 
the  same.  "  Having  done  all  to  stand,^' 
"  He  endured,  as  seeing  Him  who  is 
invisible !  "  Beware  of  the  angry  re- 
crimination, the  hasty  ebullition  of 
temper.  Amid  unkind  insinuations — 
when  motives  are  misrepresented,  and 
reputation  assailed  ;  when  good  deeds 
are  ridiculed,  kind  intentions  coldly 
thwarted  and  repulsed,  chilling  reserve 
manifested  where  you  expected  nothing 
but  friendship — what  a  triumph  over 
natural  impulse  to  manifest  a  spirit  of 
meek  endurance ! — like  a  rainbow,  ra- 
diant with  the  hues  of  heaven,  resting 
peacefully  amid  the  storms  of  derision 
a,nd  "  the  floods  of  ungodly  men."  What 
an  opportunity  of  magnifying  the  "  sus- 
taining grace  of  God  !  '^  "  It  is  a  small 
thing  for  me  to  be  judged  of  you,  or  of 
man's  judgment  ;   He  that  judgeth  me 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  59 

is  the  Lord."  "The  Lord  is  on  my 
side,  I  will  not  fear  what  man  can  do 
unto  me."  "Blessed  is  the  man  that 
mdyreth.^'  "  He  that  endicreth  to  the 
end,  the  same  shall  be  saved." 

If  faithful  to  our  God,  we  must  ex- 
pect to  encounter  contradiction  in  the 
same  form  which  Jesus  did — "  the  con- 
tradiction of  sinners J^  It  has  been  well 
said,  "  There  is  no  cross  of  nails  and 
wood  erected  now  for  the  Christian,  but 
there  is  one  of  words  and  looks  which 
is  never  taken  down."  If  believers  are 
set  as  lights  in  the  earth,  lamps  in  the 
"  city  of  destruction,"  we  know  that 
"he  that  doeth  evil  liatdh  the  light." 
"  Marvel  not,  my  brethren,  if  the  world 
hate  you !" 

Weary  and  faint  ones,  exposed  to  the 
shafts  of  calumny  and  scorn  because 
of  your  fidelity  to  your  God  ; — encoun- 
tering, it  may  be,  the  coldness  and 
estrangement  of  those  dear  to  you,  who 
cannot,  perhaps,  sympathise  in  the  holi- 


60  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

ness  of  your  walk  and  the  loftiness  of 
your  aims,  "  consider  Him  that  endured 
such  contradiction  of  sinners  against 
Himself,  lest  ye  be  weary  and  faint  in 
your  minds !"  What  is  your  "  contra- 
diction" to  His?  Soon  your  cross, 
whatever  it  be,  will  have  an  end.  "  The 
seat  of  the  scorner"  has  no  place  in 
yonder  glorious  heaven,  where  all  will 
be  peace — no  jarring  note  to  disturb 
its  blissful  harmonies  !  Look  forward 
to  the  great  coronation-day  of  the 
Church  triumphant, —  the  day  of  your 
divine  Lord's  appearing,  when  motives 
and  aims,  now  misunderstood,  will  be 
vindicated,  wrongs  redressed,  calumnies 
and  aspersions  wiped  away.  Meanwhile; 
"  rejoice  that  you  are  counted  worthy 
to  suffer  shame  for  His  name." 

"arm   Y0CBSELVB3   UKEWISE   Vmn   THE  SAMB    MIND.' 


THE  MIND    OF   JESUS.  61 


1^1 


15tk  Morning. 

**  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  whicli  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  I  do  always  those  things  that  please  Him." 
— JouN  \in.  29. 

^  V    What  a  glorious  motto 

God  /"  It  is  religion's  truest  definition. 
It  is  the  essence  of  angelic  bliss — the 
motive  principle  of  angelic  action  ;  "Ye 
ministers  of  His  that  do  His  pleasure." 
The  Lord  of  angels  knew  no  higher, 
no  other  motive.  It  was,  during  His 
incarnation,  the  regulator  and  directory 
of  His  daily  being.  It  supported  Him 
amid  the  depressing  sorrows  of  His  woe- 
worn  path.  It  upheld  him  in  their  awful 
termination  in  the  garden  and  on  the 
cross.  For  a  moment,  sinking  human 
nature  faltered  under  the  load  his  God- 
head sustained ;  but  the  thought  of 
"pleasing  God"  nerved  ani  rcAqved 
Him.  "Not  my  will,  but  Thine  be 
done." 


62  THE   MIND    OF  JESUS. 

It  is  only  when  the  love  of  God  is 
shed  abroad  in  the  heart,  that  this  ani- 
mating desire  to  "  please  Him  "  can  exist. 
In  the  lioly  bosom  of  Jesus,  that  love 
reigned  paramount,  admitting  no  ri\^al — 
no  competing  afiection.  Though  infi- 
nitely inferior  in  degree,  it  is  the  same 
impelling  principle  which  leads  His 
people  still  to  link  enjoyment  with  His 
service,  and  which  makes  consecration 
to  Him  of  heart  and  life,  its  own  best 
recompense  and  reward.  "  There  is  a 
gravitation,"  says  one  whose  life  was  the 
holy  echo  of  his  words,  "  in  the  moral  as 
in  the  physical  world.  When  love  to 
God  is  habitually  in  the  ascendant,  or 
occupying  the  place  of  will,  it  gathers 
round  it  all  the  other  desires  of  the  soul 
as  satellites,  and  whirls  them  along  with 
it  in  its  orbit  round  the  centre  of  hUyhlC' 
iionJ^  ( Reivitson^s  Life.)  Till  the  heart, 
then,  be  changed,  the  believer  cannot 
have  "  this  testimony  that  he  pleases 
God"    The  world,  self,  sin — these  be 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  03 

the  gods  of  the  unregenerate  soul.  And 
even  when  changed,  alas  that  there  should 
be  so  many  ebbings  and  flo wings  in  our 
tide  of  devotedness !  Jesus  could  say, 
"  I  do  always  those  things  that  please 
the  Father."  Glory  to  God  burned 
within  His  bosom  like  a  living  fire. 
"Many  waters  could  not  quench  it.'^ 
His  were  no  fitful  and  inconstant  frames 
and  feelings,  but  the  persistent  habit  of 
a  holy  life,  which  had  the  one  end  in 
view,  from  which  it  never  diverged  or 
deviated. 

Let  it  be  so,  in  some  lowly  measure, 
with  us.  Let  God's  services  not  be  the 
mere  livery  of  high  days, — of  set  times 
and  seasons  ;  but,  like  the  alabaster  box 
of  ointment,  let  us  be  ever  giving  forth 
the  fragrant  perfume  of  holiness.  Even 
when  the  shadows  of  trial  are  falling 
around  us,  let  us  "  pass  through  the 
cloud"  with  the  sustaining  motive — "All 
my  wish,  0  God,  is  to  please  and  glorify 
Thee  !     By  giving  or  taking — by  smit- 


64  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

ing  or  healing — by  the  sweet  cup  or  the 
bitter — '  Father,  glorify  thy  name !' " 
"I  don't  want  to  be  weary  of  God's 
dealings  with  me,"  said  Bickersteth,  on 
his  death-bed  ;  "  I  want  to  glorify  Jesus 
in  them,  and  to  find  Him  more  precious." 
Do  I  shrink  from  trials — duties — crosses 
— because  involving  hardships  and  self- 
denial,  or  because  frowned  on  by  the 
world  ?  Let  the  thought  of  God's  approv- 
ing countenance  be  enough.  Let  me 
dread  no  censure,  if  conscious  of  acting 
in  accordance  with  His  will.  Let  the 
Apostle's  monitory  word  determine  many 
a  perplexing  path.—"  If  I  please  men,  I 
am  not  the  servant  of  Christ." 

«*AIEM  TOCBSKLVES  LIKEWISE  WITH  THE  SAKE  raND." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  65 


16th  MokmxN'G. 

**  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  EJeing  grieved  for  the  hanlness  of  their  hearts." 
Mark  in.  5. 

^  .  P  ,  On  this  one  occasion  only  is 
UPriBl  HI  ^YiQ  expression  used  with  refer- 

^  ^^^*  ence  to  Jesus — (what  intensity 
of  emotion  does  it  denote,  spoken  of  a 
sinless  nature !) — "  He  looked  round  on 
them  luitJi  anger  P^  Never  did  He 
grieve  for  Himself.  His  intensest  sor- 
rows were  reserved  for  those  who  were 
tampering  with  their  own  souls,  and  dis- 
honouring His  God.  The  continual 
spectacle  of  moral  evil,  thrust  on  the 
gaze  of  spotless  purity,  made  His  earthly 
history  one  consecutive  history  of  grief, 
one  perpetual  "  cross  and  passion." 

In  the  tears  shed  at  the  grave  of 

Bethany,  sympathy,  doubtless,  for   the 

world's  myriad  mourners,  had  its  own 

share  (the  bereaved  could  not  part  with 

5 


66  THE   MIND    OP   JESUS. 

SO  precious  a  tribute  in  their  hours  of 
saclne&s,)  but  a  far  more  impressive  cause 
was  one  undiscerned  by  the  weepins:  sis- 
ters and  sorrowing  crowd  ; — Hisknovsr. 
ledge  of  the  deep  and  obdurate  impeni- 
tence of  those  who  were  about  to  gaze 
on  the  mightiest  of  miracles,  only  to 
*'  despise,  and  wonder,  and  perish.'' 
^^  Jesus  ivept  r — but  His  profoundest 
anguish  was  over  resisted  grace,  abused 
privileges,  scorned  mercy.  It  was  the 
Divine  Artificer  mourning  over  His 
shattered  handiwork  ; — the  Almighty 
Creator  weeping  over  His  ruined  world; 
— God,  the  God-man,  "  grieving"  over 
the  Temple  of  the  soul,  a  humiliating 
wreck  of  vv^hat  once  was  made  "  after 
His  own  image  I " 

Can  we  sympathize  in  any  respect 
with  such  exalted  tears  ?  Do  we  mourn 
for  sin,  our  oiun  sin — the  deep  insult 
which  it  inflicts  on  God — the  ruinous 
consequences  it  entails  on  ourselves? 
Do  we  grieve  at  sin  in  others?    Do  wo 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  67 

know  anytliing  of  "  vexing  our  souls," 
like  righteous  Lot,  "  from  day  to  day,'' 
with  the  world's  "  unlawful  deeds," — the 
Btupid  hardness  and  obduracy  of  the 
depraved  heart,  which  resists  alike  the 
appliances  of  wrath  and  love,  judgment 
and  mercy  ?  Ah !  it  is  easy,  in  general 
terms,  to  condemn  vice,  and  to  utter 
harsh,  severe,  and  cutting  denunciations 
on  the  guilty :  it  is  easy  to  pass  unchari- 
table comments  on  the  inconsistencies  or 
follies  of  others  ;  but  to  '"grieve"  as  our 
Lord  did,  is  a  different  thing ; — to  mourn 
over  the  hardness  of  heart,  and  yet  to 
have  the  burning  desire  to  teach  it  bet- 
ter things  ; — to  hate,  as  He  did,  the  sin, 
but,  like  Him  also,  to  love  the  sinner! 

Reader !  look  specially  to  your  own 
spirit.  In  one  respect,  the  example  of 
Jesus  falls  short  of  your  case.  He  had 
no  sin  of  His  own  to  mourn  over.  He 
could  only  commiserate  others.  Your 
intensest  grief  must  begin  with  yourself. 
Like  the  watchful  Levite  of  old,  be  a 


68  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

guardian  at  the  temple -gates  of  your 
own  soul.  Whatever  be  your  besetting 
iniquity,  jour  constitutional  bias  to  sin, 
seek  to  guard  it  with  wakeful  yigilanco. 
Grieve  at  the  thought  of  incurring  one 
passing  shadow  of  displeasure  from  so 
kind  and  compassionate  a  Saviour.  Let 
this  be  a  holy  preservative  in  your  every 
hour  of  temptation,  "  How  can  I  do  this 
great  wickedness,  and  sin  against  God?" 
Grieve  for  a  perishing  world — a 
groaning  creation  fettered  and  chained 
in  unwilling  '^  subjection  to  vanity."  Do 
what  you  can,  by  effort,  by  prayer,  to 
hasten  on  the  hour  of  jubilee,  when  its 
ashy  robes  of  sin  and  sorrow  shall  be 
laid  aside,  and,  attired  in  the  ''  beauties 
of  holiness,"  it  shall  exult  in  "  the  glo- 
rious liberty  of  the  sons  of  God  !  " 

*'  ABM  TO-TRS^LVES  UKEWTSE  WITH  THE  SAMS  MIKD." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  69 


ITth  Mormxq. 

"Lot  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus. 

•Ileriseth  from  supper,  and  laid  aside  His  garmcuts  ;  and 
took  a  towel,  and  girded  Himself.  After  that  He  poureth 
water  into  a  basin,  and  began  to  wash  the  disciples' 
feet."— John  xm.  4, 6. 

4i5ttm;iUK  What  a  matchless  picture  of 
mmim^,  humility!  At  the  very  mo- 
ment when  His  throne  was  in  view  ; — 
angel-anthems  floating  in  His  ear  ; — the 
hour  come  "  when  He  was  to  depart  out 
of  this  world  ;"  possessing  a  lofty  con- 
sciousness of  His  peerless  dignity,  that 
"He  came  from  God  and  went  to 
God  ;'*  THEN  "Jesus  took  a  towel,  and 
girded  Himself,  and  began  to  wash  the 
disciples'  feet !"  All  heaven  was  ready 
at  that  moment  to  cast  their  combined 
crowns  at  His  feet.  But  the  High  and 
the  Lofty  One  inhabiting  eternity  is  on 
earth  "  as  one  that  serveth  !  "  "  That 
infinite  stoop  !  it  sinks  all  creature  hu- 
miliation to  nothing,  and  renders  it  im- 


70  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

possible  for  a  creature  to  TiumUe  him- 
self."— {Evans.) 

Humility  follows  Him  from  His  un- 
honoured  birthplace  to  His  borrowed 
grave.  It  throws  a  subdued  spleudour 
over  all  He  did.  "  The  poor  in  spirit," 
— the  "  mourner," — the  "  meek," — claim 
His  first  beatitudes.  He  was  severe  on- 
ly to  one  class — those  who  looked  down 
upon  others.  However  He  is  employed ; 
whether  performing  His  works  of  mirac- 
ulous power,  or  receiving  angel-visitants, 
or  taking  little  children  in  His  arms, 
He  stands  forth  "  clotlied  with  humility." 
Nay,  this  humility  becomes  more  con- 
spicuous as  He  draws  nearer  glory. 
Before  His  death.  He  calls  His  disci- 
ples ^^  Friends  ;  ^^  subsequently,  it  is 
''Brethren,'' ''ChUdren."  How  "sad  the 
contrast  between  the  Master  and  His 
disciples  !  Two  hours  had  not  elapsed 
after  He  washed  their  feet,  when  "there 
was  a  strife  among  them  which  should 
be  the  greatest  I" 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  71 

Let  the  mental  image  of  that  lowly 
Redeemer  be  ever  bending  over  us. 
His  example  may  well  speak  in  silent 
irapressiveness,  bringing  us  down  from 
our  pedestal  of  pride.  There  surely  can 
be  no  labour  of  love  too  humiliating 
when  He  stooped  so  low.  Let  us  be 
content  to  take  the  humblest  place  ; — 
not  envious  of  the  success  or  exaltation 
of  another  ;  not,  "  like  Diotrephes,  lov- 
ing pre-eminence ;"  but  willing  to  be 
thought  little  of ;  saying  with  the  Bap- 
tist, with  our  eye  on  our  Lord,  "  He 
must  increase,  but  I  must  decrease !" 

How  much  we  have  cause  to  be  hum- 
ble for ! — the  constant  cleaving  of  de- 
filement to  our  souls;  and  even  what 
is  partially  good  in  us,  how  mixed  with 
imperfection,  self-seeking,  arrogance, 
vain-glory !  A  proud  Christian  is  a 
contradiction  in  terms.  The  Seraphim 
of  old  (type  of  the  Christian  Church, 
and  of  believers)  had  six  wings — two 
were  for  errands  of  love,  but  "  w\\h.fouT 


72  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

he  covered  himself!"  It  has  been  bean- 
tifully  said,  "  You  lie  nearest  the  River 
of  Life  when  you  bend  to  it ;  you  cannot 
drink,  but  as  you  stoop  J''  The  corn  of 
the  field,  as  it  ripens,  bows  its  head  ;  so 
the  Christian,  as  he  ripens  in  the  divine 
life,  bends  in  this  lowly  grace.  Christ 
speaks  of  His  people  as  "  lilies  " — they 
are  "  li]ies  of  the  Valley ^^^  they  can  only 
grow  in  the  shade ! 

"  Humble  yourselves  under  the  mighty 
hand  of  God.''  "  Go"  with  what  Ruth- 
erford calls  "a  low  sail."  It  is  the  liv- 
ery of  your  blessed  Master  ;  the  family 
badge — the  family  likeness.  "With  this 
man  will  I  dwell,  even  with  him  that  is 
humble.^'  Yes!  the  humble,  sanctified 
heart  is  God's  second  Heaven  I 

"ARM  YOCHSKLT  ES  liSirWlSE  TTITH  THB  SAME  lOMD.*' 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  73 


18th  SIornisg 
"  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  He  was  brought  as  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter." — 
ISA.  Lni.  7. 

^.    ,  How  great  was  the  'patience 

^c  mtiill,  of  Jesus !  E  veu  among  His  OAm 
disciples,  how  forbearingly  He  endured 
their  blindness,  their  misconceptions  and 
hardness  of  heart !  Philip  had  been  for 
three  years  with  Him,  yet  he  had  "  not 
known  Him !  " — all  that  time  he  had  re- 
mained in  strange  and  culpable  ignorance 
of  his  Lord's  dignity  and  glory.  See  how 
tenderly  Jesus  bears  with  liim  ; — giving 
him  nothing  in  reply  for  his  confession  of 
ignorance  but  unparalleled  promises  of 
grace ! — Peter,  the  honoured  and  trusted, 
becomes  a  renegade  and  a  coward. 
Justly  might  his  dishonoured  Lord, 
stung  with  such  unrequited  love,  have 
cut  the  unworthy  cumberer  down.  But 
He  spares  him,  bears  with  him,  gently 
rebukes  him,  and  loves  him  more  thau 


74  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

ever ! — See  tlie  Divine  Sufferer  in  the 
terminating  scenes  of  His  own  ignominy 
and  woe.  How  patient! — "As  a  sheep 
before  her  shearers  is  dumb,  so  He 
opened  not  His  mouth."  In  these  awful 
moments,  outraged  Omnipotence  might 
have  summoned  twelve  legions  of  angels 
and  put  into  the  hand  of  each  a  vial  of 
wrath.  But  He  submits  in  meek,  ma- 
jestic silence.  Verily,  in  Him  "  patience 
had  lier  perfect  work." 

Think  of  this  same  patience  with  His 
Church  and  people  since  He  ascended 
to  glory.  The  years  upon  years  He 
has  borne  with  their  perverse  resistance 
of  His  grace,  their  treacherous  ingrati- 
tude, their  wayward  wanderings,  their 
hardness  of  heart  and  contempt  of  His 
holy  word.  Yet,  behold  the  forbearing 
love  of  this  Saviour  God !  His  hand  of 
mercy  is  "  stretched  out  still !  " 

Child  of  God  !  art  thou  now  undergo- 
ing some  bitter  trial  ?  Tlie  way  of  thy  G  od, 
it  may  be,  all  mystery  ;  no  footprints  of 


THE   MIND    OF    JESUS.  75 

love  traceable  in  the  chequered  path ; 
no  light  in  the  clouds  above  ;  no  ray  in 
the  dark  future.  Be  patient !  "  The 
Lord  is  good  to  them  that  icait  for  Him." 
"  They  that  ivait  on  the  Lord  shall  re- 
new their  strength !  " — Or  hast  thou  been 
long  tossed  on  some  bed  of  sickness — 
days  of  pain  and  nights  of  weariness  a}> 
pointed  thee?  Be  patient !  "I  trust 
this  groaning/'  said  a  suffering  saint, 
"  is  not  murmuring."  God,  by  this  very 
affliction,  is  nurturing  within  thee  this 
beauteous  grace  which  shone  so  con- 
spicuously in  the  character  of  thy  dear 
Lord.  With  Him  it  was  a  lovely  habit 
of  the  soul.  With  thee,  the  "  tribula- 
tion "  which  worketh  "  patience  "  is  need- 
ful discipline.  "  It  is  good  for  a  man 
that  he  should  both  hope  and  quietly 
wait  for  the  salvation  of  Glod." — Art 
thou  suffering  some  unmerited  wrong  or 
unkindness,  exposed  to  harsh  and  wound- 
ing accusations,  hard  for  flesh  and  blood 
to  bear  ?    Be  patient!  Beware  of  hasti- 


76  THE  MIND    OF   JESUS. 

ness  of  speech  or  temper  ;  remember  ho"^ 
much  evil  may  be  done  by  a  few  incon- 
siderate words,  "  spoken  unadvisedly 
with  the  lip."  Think  of  Jesus  standing 
before  a  human  tribunal,  in  the  silent 
SLibmissiveness  of  conscious  innocence 
and  integrity.  Leave  thy  cause  with 
God.  Let  this  be  the  only  form  of  thy 
complaint,  "  0  God,  I  am  oppressed  ; 
undertake  Thou  for  me  !  " 

"  In  patience,"  then  "  possess  ye  your 
souls."  Let  it  not  be  a  grace  for  pecu- 
liar seasons,  called  forth  on  peculiar  exi- 
gencies ;  but  an  habitual  frame  mani- 
fested in  the  calm  serenity  of  a  daily 
walk  ; — placidity  amid  tlie  little  fretting 
annoyances  of  every-day  life —  a  fixed 
purpose  of  the  heart  to  wait  upon  God, 
and  cast  its  every  burden  upon  Him. 

"arm    TOUKSEIVES  IIKEWISE    WITH   THE   SAME  MIKQ," 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  77 


19th  MoRxixa 

"  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 

Christ  Jesus." 

'  As   the  Father  gave  me  commandment,  even  so  I  do." 

JOHX  XIV.  '61. 

o  I »  ,.  Jesus  as  God-man  had  onir 
^UUjmiQU.  nipotencc  slumbering  in  His 
arm.  He  had  the  hoarded  treasures 
of  eternity  in  his  grasp.  He  had  only 
to  "  speak,  and  it  was  done."  But  as  an 
example  to  His  people,  His  whole  life 
on  earth  was  one  impressive  act  of  sub- 
ordination and  dependence.  At  Naza- 
reth He  was  "  subject  to  His  parents." 
There  He  remained  in  studied  obscu- 
rity occupying  for  thirty  years  a  lowly 
hut,  willing  to  continue  in  a  state  of  seclu- 
sion, till  the  Father's  summons  called 
Him  to  His  appointed  work. 

At  His  baptism,  sinless  Himself,  He 
gives  this  reason  for  receiving  a  sinner^s 
rite  at  a  sinner's  hands — "  Suffer  it  to 
be  so  now,  for  thus  it  becometh  Me  to 
fulfil    all    righteousness."     The    same 


78  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

beaiftiful  spirit  of  filial  suhjection  shines 
conspicaoiis  amid  His  acts  of  stupendous 
power.  ''  Jesus  lifted  up  His  eyes  and 
said,  Father,  I  thank  Thee  that  Thou 
hast  heard  Me  ;  and  I  know  that  Thou 
hearest  Me  always  ;  but  because  of  the 
people  which  stand  by,  I  said  it,  that 
they  may  believe  that  Thou  hast  sent 
Me."  Even  among  His  own  disciples 
His  language  is,  "  I  am  among  you  as 
He  that  serveth."  With  an  act  of  sub- 
mission He  closed  His  pilgrimage  and 
work  of  love.  "  Father,  into  Thy  hands 
I  commend  My  spirit." 

What  an  example  to  us,  in  all  this, 
is  our  beloved  Lord!  Surely,  if  He, 
"  God  only  wise" — the  Self-existent  One, 
to  whom  "  all  power  was  committed  ;" — 
the  Sinless  One,  never  liable  to  err,  on 
whom  "  the  Spirit  was  poured  without 
measure" — if  He  manifested  such  habit- 
ual dependence  on  His  heavenly  Father, 
how  eajnestly  ought  ive,  weak,  erring, 
fallible  creatures,  to  seek  to  live  every 


THE   MIND   OF   JESUS.  79 

hour — every  moment — as  pensioners  on 
God's  grace  and  love,  following  in  all 
things  His  directing  hand !  As  the  ser- 
vant has  his  eyes  on  his  master,  or  the 
child  on  its  parent,  "  so  should  our  eyes 
be  on  the  Lord  our  God.''  Howsoever 
He  speaks,  be  it  ours  with  all  docility 
to  follow  the  voice,  endorsing  every 
utterance  of  providence,  and  every  pre- 
cept of  Scripture,  with  our  Lord's  own 
words,  "  This  is  tJie  Father'' s  loill !  '' 

Beware  of  self-dependence.  The  first 
step  in  spiritual  declension  is  this  : — 
"  Let  him  that  thiriketh  he  standeth  !  " 
The  secret  of  real  strength  is  this  : — 
"  Kept  by  the  poiver  of  God  I  " 

How  it  sweetens  all  our  blessings,  and 
alleviates  all  our  sorrows,  to  regard  both 
as  emanations  from  a  loving  Father*s 
liand.  Even  if  we  should  be  like  the  dis- 
ciples of  old,  "  constrained''''  to  go  into 
the  ship  ;  if  all  should  be  darkness  and 
tempest, — frowning  providences, — "  tJie 
wind  contrary  ;"  how  blessed  to  feel  that 


80  THE    MIND    OF   JESUS. 

in  embarking  on  the  unquiet  element^ 
''  the  Lord  has  bidden  us  !"  Paul  could 
not  speak  even  of  taking  an  earthly 
journey,  without  the  parenthesis,  ("  if 
the  Lord  will.")  How  many  trials,  and 
sorrows,  and  sins,  would  it  save  us,  if  the 
same  were  tlie  liabitual  regulator  of  our 
daily  life !  It  would  lead  to  calm  con- 
tentment with  our  lot,  hushing  every  dis- 
quieting suggestion  with  the  thought 
that  that  lot,  with  all  that  is  apparently 
adverse  in  it,  was  ordained  for  us.  It 
would  teach  us  not  to  be  aspiring  after 
great  things,  but  humbly  to  wait  the 
will  and  purposes  of  a  wise  Provider  ; 
not  to  go  before  our  Heavenly  Guide, 
but  io  follow  Him,  saying,  in  meek  sub- 
jection, "Lord,  my  heart  is  not  haughty, 
nor  mine  eyes  lofty,  neither  do  I  exer- 
cise myself  in  great  matters,  or  in  things 

too  high  for  me my  soul  is  even  as 

a  weaned  child !" 

♦*ARU  YOrRSEL-VES  UKKWTSE  WITH  THE  SAME  MIIVD." 


THE   MIND    OF   OESUB.  81 


20-12  MoRNINO. 


**  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  Who,  when  He  was  reviled,  reviled  not  again. 
— 1  Peter  ii.  23. 

^  ,  What  a  common  dictate 
irt  ^1  r  1;  of  ^^6  fallen  and  unregen- 
iirialiaiing.   ^^^^^  1^^^^^,^  ^^  resent  and 

recriminate !  How  alien  to  natural  feel- 
ing to  answer  cutting  taunts,  and  meet 
unmerited  wrong,  with  the  Divine  meth- 
od the  Gospel  prescribes — "  Overcome 
evil  with  good !  "  It  was  in  the  closing 
scenes  of  the  Saviour's  humiliation,  when, 
silent  and  unresenting.  He  stood  "  dumb 
before  His  shearers,"  that  this  beautiful 
feature  in  His  character  was  most  won- 
drously  manifested  ;  but  it  beams  forth 
also  for  our  imitation  in  the  ordinary 
and  less  prominent  incidents  of  His  pil- 
grimage. 

When  He  met  Nathaniel  of  Cana  in 
Galilee,  He  found  him  clinging  to  an  un- 
reasonable prejudice — "  Can  any  good 
6 


82  THE    MIND    OF    JESUS. 

thing  come  out  of  Nazareth  ?  "  The  se- 
vere remark  is  allowed  to  pass  imnoticed. 
Overlooking  the  mikind  insinuation,  the 
Saviour  fixes  on  the  favourable  feature 
of  his  character,  "  Behold  an  Israelite 
indeed,  in  whom  is  no  guile  ! " — After 
His  resurrection,  he  appears  to  His  dis- 
ciples. They  were  cowering  in  shame, 
half  afraid  to  confront  the  glance  of 
injured  goodness.  He  breathes  on  them, 
and  says,  "  Peace  be  unto  you  !  " — Peter 
was  the  one  of  all  the  rest  who  had 
most  reason  to  dread  estranged  looks 
and  upbraiding  words  ;  but  a  special 
message  is  sent,  to  reassure  that  trem- 
bling spirit  that  there  was  no  aliena- 
tion in  the  unresentful  Heart  he  had  so 
deeply  wounded  ; — "  Go  and  tell  the  dis- 
ciples .  .  .  and  Peter  I '' — Even  when 
Judas  first  revealed  himself  to  his  Tjord 
as  the  betrayer,  we  believe  it  was  not  in 
bitter  irony  or  rebuke,  but  in  the  ful- 
ness of  pitying  tenderness,  that  Jesus 
addressed  him,  "  Friend,  wherefore  art 


THE   m^D   OP   JESUS.  83 

thou  come  ?  " — Tears  and  prayers  were 
His  only  revenge  on  the  city  and  scene 
of  His  murder.  "  Beginning  at  Jerusa- 
lem," was  the  closing  illustration  of  a 
spirit  "  not  of  this  world  " — a  significant 
parting  testimony  that  in  the  bosom 
that  uttered  it,  retaliation  had  no  place. 

More  than  one  of  the  disciples  seem 
to  have  imbibed  much  of  this  "mind  "  of 
their  Lord.  "  We  owe  St.  Paul,"  says 
Augustine,  "  to  the  death  of  Stephen  ;  '* 
— "  they  stoned  Stephen  ....  and  he 
kneeled  down  and  cried  with  a  loud 
voice,  Lord !  lay  not  this  sin  to  their 
charge." 

Take  another  example  :  The  great 
Apostle  of  the  Gentiles  felt  himself  under 
a  painful  necessity  faithfully  to  rebuke 
Peter  in  presence  of  the  whole  Church. 
He  had  recorded  that  rebuke,  too,  in  one 
of  his  epistles.  It  was  thus  to  be  handed 
down  to  every  age  as  a  permanent  and 
bumiliating  evidence  of  the  wavering  in- 
consto^ncy  of  his  fellow-labourer.    Peter, 


84  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

doubtless,  must  have  felt  acutely  tlie 
geverity  of  the  chastisement.  Doet?  he 
resent  it  ?  He,  too,  puts  on  record,  long 
after,  in  one  of  his  own  epistles,  a  sen- 
tence regarding  his  Rebuker,  but  it  is 
tliis — "  Our  beloved  hrother  Paul !  " 

Reader !  when  tempted  to  utter  the 
harsh  word,  or  give  the  cutting  or  hasty 
answer,  seek  to  check  yourself  with  the 
question,  "  Is  this  the  reply  my  Saviour 
would  have  given  ?  "  If  your  fellow-men 
should  prove  unkind,  inconsiderate,  un- 
grateful, be  it  yours  to  refer  the  cause 
to  God.  Speak  of  the  faults  of  others 
only  in  prayer  ;  manifesting  more  sor- 
row for  the  sin  of  the  censorious  and 
unkind,  than  for  the  evil  inflicted  on 
yourselves. — Retaliate  !  No  such  word 
should  have  a  place  in  the  Christian's 
vocabulary.  Eetaliate!  If  I  cherish 
such  a  spirit  towards  my  brother,  how 
can  I  meet  that  brother  in  heaven  ?— 
"  But  ye  have  not  so  learned  Christ." 

"  ARM  TOURSELVES  LIKEWISE  WITH  THE  SAME  MIND," 


THE   MIND    OF    JESUS.  85 


21ST  MoajHNO. 

**  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

"  And  He  bearing  His  cross." — John  xix.  17. 

^     ♦         When  did  Jesus  bear  the 
iiBnring      ^^^^gg^     ^^^   ^l^^^  moment 

ter  tree  was  placed  on  His  shoulders, 
on  the  way  to  Golgotha.  Its  vision 
may  be  said  to  have  risen  before  Him 
in  His  infant  dreams  in  Bethlehem's 
cradle  ;  there,  rather,  its  reality  began  ; 
and  He  ceased  not  to  carry  it,  till  His 
work  was  finished,  and  the  victory  won  I 
A  cloud  of  old,  hovered  over  the  mercy- 
seat  in  the  tabernacle  and  temple.  So 
it  was  with  the  Great  Antitype — the  liv- 
ing Mercy-Seat, — He  had  ever  a  cloud 
of  woe  hanging  over  Him.  "  He  car- 
ried our  sorrows." 

Reader !  dwell  much  and  often  under 
the  shadow  of  your  Lord's  cross,  and  it 
will  lead  you  to  think  lightly  of  your 


86  THE    MIND    OF   JESUS. 

own !  Ii  He  gave  utterance  1o  not  one 
murmuring  word,  canst  thou  complain  ? 
"  If  we  were  deeper  students  of  His  bit- 
ter anguish,  we  should  think  less  of  the 
ripplingo  of  our  waves,  amidst  His  hoi*- 
rible  tempest." — {Eva-^.s)  The  saint's 
cross  assumes  many  and  diverse  shapes. 
Sometimes  it  is  the  bitter  trial,  tlie 
crushing  pang  of  bereavement, — desolate 
households,  and  aching  hearts.  Some- 
times it  is  the  crucifixion  of  sin,  the  de- 
termined battling  with  "  lusts  which  war 
against  the  soul."  Sometimes  it  is  the 
resistance  of  the  evil  maxims  and  prac- 
tices of  a  lying  world  ; — vindicating  the 
honour  of  Christ,  in  the  midst,  it  may 
be,  of  taunt,  and  obloquy,  and  shame. 
And  as  there  are  different  crosses,  so 
there  are  different  ways  of  bearing 
them.  To  some,  God  says,  "  Put  your 
shoulder  to  the  burden  ;  lift  it  up,  and 
bear  it  on  ;  work,  and  toil,  and  labour  !  " 
To  others,  He  says,  "  Be  still,  bear  it, 
and  suffer  I " 


THE    MIND    OF   JESUS.  87 

Believer !  thy  cross  may  be  hard  to 
endure ;  it  may  involve  deep  struggles — 
tears  by  day,  watchings  by  night ;  bear 
it  meekly,  patiently,  justifying  God's 
wisdom  in  laying  it  on.  Rejoice  in  the 
assurance  that  He  gives  not  one  atom 
more  of  earthly  trial  than  He  sees  to 
be  really  needful ;  not  one  redundant 
thorn  pierces  your  feet.  In  the  very 
bearing  of  the  cross  for  Hi?  sake,  there 
are  mighty  compensations.  What  new 
views  of  your  Saviour's  love !  His  truth, 
His  promises,  His  sustaining  grace,  His 
sufferings,  His  glory  !  What  new  filial 
nearness  ;  increased  delight  in  prayer  ; 
an  inner  sunshine  when  it  is  darkest 
without!  The  waves  cover  5'ou,  but 
underneath  them  all  are  "  the  everlast- 
ing arms ! " 

Do  not  look  out  for  a  situation  with- 
out crosses.  Be  not  over  anxious  about 
"smooth  paths;" — leaving  your  God, 
as  Orpah  did  Naomi,  just  when  thf  cross 
requires   to   be   carried.      Immoderate 


88  THE    MINU    OF   JESUS. 

earthly  enjoyments, — unbroken  earthly 
prosperity,  —  write  upon  these  "  Be- 
ware!  "  You  may  live  to  see  them  be- 
come your  greatest  trials ! 

Remember  the  old  saying,  "  No  cross 
no  crown."  The  sun  of  the  saint's  life 
generally  struggles  through  "weeping 
clouds."  One  of  the  loveliest  passages  of 
Scripture  is  that  in  which  the  portals  of 
heaven  being  opened,  we  overhear  this 
dialogue  between  two  ransomed  ones — 
"  And  one  of  the  elders  answered,  say- 
ing unto  me.  What  are  these  which  are 
arrayed  in  white  robes,  and  whence 
came  they  ?  And  I  said  unto  him.  Sir, 
thou  knowest.  And  he  said  to  me, 
These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great 
trihulcdion  !  ^^ 

"aem  roxmsEivES  xjkbwise  wtth  the  same  nun)." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  89 


22ii  MoKNisck 

**  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ   Jesus." 

*'  The  zeal  of  Tliinc  House  hath  eaten  me  up." 
— Jonx  II.  17. 

J,.  J  ^  I  "  Zeal  is  a  principle ;  en- 
mitl  4Ul  thusiasm  is  a  feeling.  The 
one  is  the  spark  of  a  sanguine  tempera- 
ment and  overheated  imagination.  The 
other,  a  sacred  flame,  kindled  at  God's 
altar,  and  burning  in  God's  shrine." — 
(  Vauglian.)  Such  was  the  holy,  heavenly- 
zeal  of  our  Great  Exemplar!  His 
were  no  transient  outbursts  of  ardour, 
which  time  cooled,  and  difficulties  im- 
peded. His  life  was  one  indignant  pro- 
test against  sin  ;  one  ceaseless  current 
of  undying  love  for  souls,  which  all  the 
malignity  of  foes,  and  unkindness  of 
friends,  could  not  for  one  moment  divert 
from  its  course.  Even  when  He  rises 
from  the  dead,  and  we  imagine  His 
work  at  an  end,  His  zeal  only  meditates 
fresh  deeds  of  love.     "  Still  His  heart 


90  THE    MIND    OF   JESUS. 

and  His  care,"  says  Goodwin, ''  is  upon 
doing  more."  Having  now  dispatclied 
that  great  work  on  earth,  He  sends  His 
disciples  word  that  He  is  hastening  to 
heaven  as  fast  as  He  can,  to  do 
another.  (John  xx.  11.) 

Eeader !  do  you  know  anything  of 
this  zeal,  which  "  many  waters  could  not 
quench  ?"  See  that,  like  your  Lord's,  it 
be  steady,  sober,  consistent,  undeviating. 
How  many  are,  like  the  children  of  Eph- 
raim,  "carrying  bows," — all  zealous  when 
zeal  demands  no  sacrifice,  but  "  turning 
their  backs  in  the  day  of  battle !"  Others 
"  running  well"  for  a  time,  but  gradually 
"hindered"  through  the  benumbing  in- 
fluences of  worldliness,  selfishness  and 
sin. — Two  disciples,  apparently  equally 
devoted  and  zealous,  send  through  Paul, 
in  one  of  his  epistles,  a  conjoint  Chris- 
tian salutation — "  Luke  and  Demas  greet 
you."  A  few  years  afterwards,  thus 
he  writes  from  his  Roman  dungeon — 
"  Only  Liike  is  with  me,"  "  Demas  hath 


THE    MIXD    (IF   JESUS.  91 

forsaken  me,  having  loved  tins  present 
world  !" 

While  zeal  is  commendaLle,  remember 
the  Apostle's  qualification,  "  It  is  good 
to  be  zealously  affected  always  in  a  good 
thing."  There  is  in  these  days  much 
base  coin  current,  called.  "  zeal,"  which 
bears  not  the  image  and  superscription 
of  Jesus.  There  is  zeal  for  church- 
membership  and  party  ;  zeal  for  creeds 
and  dogmas  ;  zeal  for  figments  and  non- 
essentials. "  From  such  turn  aside.'' 
Yowv  Lord  stamped  with  His  example 
and  approval  no  such  counterfeits.  His 
zeal  was  ever  brought  to  bear  on  two 
objects,  and  two  objects  alone — tlie  glory 
of  God  and  the  good  of  man.  Be  it  so 
with  you.  Enter,  first  of  all,  (as  He 
did  the  earthly  temple,)  the  sanctuary  of 
your  oivn  heart,  with  "  the  scourge  of 
small  cords."  Drive  out  every  unhal- 
lowed intruder  there.  Do  not  suffer 
yourself  to  be  deceived.  Others  may 
call    such  jealous  searchings   of  spirit 


92  THE    MIND    OF    JESUS. 

"sanctimonioasness''  and  "enthusiasm.'^ 
But  remember,  to  be  almost  saved  is  to 
be  altogether  lost  I — to  be  zealous  about 
everything  but  "  the  one  thing  needful," 
is  an  insult  to  God  and  your  everlasting 
interests ! 

Have  a  zeal  for  others.  Dying 
myriads  are  around  you.  As  a  member 
of  the  Christian  priesthood,  it  becomes 
you  to  rush  in  with  your  censer  and  in- 
cense between  the  living  and  the  dead, 
"  that  the  plague  may  be  stayed  !" 

Be  it  yours  to  say,  "  Blessed  Jesus ! 
I  am  Thine! — Thine  only! — Thine 
wholly  ! — Thine  for  ever  !  I  am  willing 
to  follow  Thee,  and  (if  need  be)  to  suffer 
for  Thee.  I  am  ready  at  Thy  bidding 
to  leave  the  homestead  in  the  valley, 
and  to  face  the  cutting  blasts  of  the 
mountain.  Take  me — use  me  for  Thy 
glory.  'Lord!  T^hat  wilt  Thou  have 
me  to  do  ?' " 

"  ARM  TOtTRSKLVES  LIKEWISE   WITF   TITE  SAME  MISD." 


THE  MIND    OF   JESUS.  93 


23d  MOKNDia. 


**Lei  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

*'  ViTio  went  about  doing  good." — Acts  x.  38. 

,  "  Christ's  great  end,"  says 

S^rntUDlrnrt  ^i^i.^^^  Baxter,  "  was  to 
save  men  from  their  sins ;  but  He  de- 
lighted to  save  them  from  their  sorro^vs." 
His  heart  bled  for  human  misery.  Benev- 
olence brought  Him  from  heaven ;  be- 
nevolence followed  His  steps  wherever 
He  went  on  earth.  The  journeys  of  the 
Divine  Philanthropist  were  marked  by 
tears  of  thankfulness,  and  breathings 
of  grateful  love.  The  helpless,  the  blind, 
the  lame,  the  desolate,  rejoiced  at  the 
sound  of  His  footfall.  Truly  might  it 
be  said  of  Him,  "  When  the  ear  heard 
me,  then  it  blessed  me  ;  and  when  the  eye 
saw  me,  it  gave  witness  to  me  "  (Job  xxix. 
11).  All  suffering  hearts  were  a  magnet 
to  Jesus.  It  was  not  more  His  prerog- 
ative than  His  happiness  to  turn  tears 


94  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

into  smiles.  One  of  the  few  pleasm-es 
which  on  earth  j^lacldened  the  spirit  of 
the  "  Man  of  sorrows  "  was  the  pleasure 
of  doing  ^oocZ— soothing  grief,  and  alle- 
viating misery.  Next  to  the  joy  of  the 
widow  of  Nain  when  her  son  was  restor- 
ed, was  the  joy  in  the  bosom  of  the  Di- 
vine Restorer  !  He  often  went  out  of 
His  way  to  be  kind.  A  journey  was  not 
grudged,  even  if  one  aching  spirit  were  to 
be  soothed  (Mark  v.  1  ;  John  iv.  4,  5). 
Nor  were  His  kindnesses  dispensed 
through  the  intervention  of  others.  They 
were  all  personal  acts.  His  own  hand 
healed.  His  own  voice  spake.  His  own 
footsteps  lingered  on  the  threshold  of 
bereavement,  or  at  the  precincts  of  the 
tomb.  Ah !  had  the  princes  of  this  world 
known  the  loving  tenderness  and  nnself- 
islmcss  of  that  heart,  "  tliey  would  not 
have  crucified  the  Lord  of  Glory  ! '' 

Eeader !  do  you  know  anything  of 
such  active  benevolence  ?  Have  you 
never  felt  the  luxury  of  doing  good? 


THE    MIND    OF   JESUS.  95 

Have  you  never  felt,  that  in  making 
others  liappy,  you  make  yourself  so  ? 
that,  by  a  great  law  of  your  being, 
enunciated  by  the  Divine  Patron  and 
Pattern  of  Benevolence,  "  It  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive  ?  "  Has 
God  enriched  you  with  this  world's 
goods  ?  Seek  to  view  yourself  as  a 
consecrated  medium  for  dispensing  them 
to  others.  Beware  alike  of  penurious 
hoarding  and  selfish  extravagance.  How 
sad  the  case  of  those  whose  lot  God  has 
made  thus  to  abound  with  temporal  mer- 
cies, who  have  gone  to  the  grave  uncon- 
scious of  diminishing  one  drop  of  human 
misery,  or  making  one  of  the  world's 
myriad  aching  hearts  happier  ! — How 
the  example  of  Jesus  rebukes  the  cold 
and  calculating  kindnesses — the  mit«- 
like  offerings  of  many  even  of  His  own 
people  !  "  whose  libation  is  not  like  His, 
from  the  brim  of  an  overflowing  cup, 
but:  from  the  bottom — from  the  dregs  f^^ 
Yon  may  have  little  to  give.     Your 


ye  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

sphere  and  means  may  be  alike  limited. 
But  remember  God  can  be  as  much 
glorified  by  the  trifle  saved  from  the 
earnings  of  poverty,  as  by  the  splendid 
benefaction  from  the  lap  of  plenty.  "  The 
Lord  loveth  a  cheerful  giver." 

The  nobler  part  of  Christian  benev- 
olence is  not  vast  largesses,  munificent 
pecuniary  sacrifices.  '^He  ivent  about 
doing  good."  The  merciful  visit, — the 
friendly  word, — the  look  of  sympathy, 
— the  cup  of  cold  water, — the  little  un- 
ostentatious service, — the  giving  without 
tliought  or  hope  of  recompense, — the 
kindly  "  considering  of  the  poor  " — an- 
ticipating their  wants — studying  their 
comforts  ; — these  are  what  God  values 
and  loves.  They  are  "  loans  "  to  Him- 
self—tributary streams  to  "  the  rivei'  of 
His  pleasure  ;" — they  will  be  acknowl- 
edged at  last  as  such — "  Ye  did  it  unto 
MeP 

"aKM   TOURSEUTS   LIKEWISK   WITH   THE  SAKT.  MVND." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  97 


24th  MoRNiwa. 


Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

*<  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Get  thee  hence,  Satan.'  — 
MArr.  IV  10. 

4X.  .     There  is  an  awful  iuten- 

fimnm  in  ^-^^^  ^^  ^^^^^^^^  .^  ,^^ 

'(LnnplaUnE.  ^^^.^^^  ^g  applied  to  Jesus, 
"  He  suffered,  being  tempted ! "  Though 
incapable  of  sin,  there  was,  in  the  refined 
sensibilities  of  His  holy  nature,  that 
which  made  temptation  unspeakably 
fearful.  What  must  it  have  been  to 
confront  the  Arch-traitor? — to  stand 
face  to  face  with  the  foe  of  His  throne, 
and  His  universe  ?  But  the  "  prince  of 
this  world  "  came,  and  found  "  nothing 
in  Him."  Billow  after  billow  of  Sa- 
tanic violence  spent  its  fury,  in  vain,  on 
the  Living  Rock ! 

Reader  !  you  have  still  the  same  ma- 
lignant enemy  to  contend  with;  assail- 
ing you  in  a  thousand  insidious  forms  ; 
marvellously  adapting  his   aspaiilt?  to 
7 


98  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

your  circumstances,  your  temperament, 
your  mental  bias,  your  master  passion ! 
There  is  no  place,  where  "  Satan's  seat " 
is  not ;  "  the  whole  world  lieth  in  the 
Wicked  one."— (1  ^o\m  v.  19.)  He  has 
his  whispers  for  the  ear  of  childhood  j 
hoary  age  is  not  inaccessible  to  his 
wiles.  ^^AU  this  will  I  give  //iee"---is 
still  his  bribe  to  deny  Jesus  and  to 
"  mind  earthly  things."  He  will  meet 
you  in  the  crowd  ;  he  will  follow  you 
to  the  solitude  ;  his  is  a  sleepless  vigi- 
lance ! 

Are  you  bold  in  repelling  him  as  your 
Master  was  ?  Are  you  ready  with  the 
retort  to  every  foul  suggestion,  "  Get 
thee  hence,  Satan  "?  Cultivate  a  tender 
sensitiveness  about  sin.  The  finest  ba- 
rometers are  the  most  sensitive.  What- 
ever be  your  besetting  frailty — what- 
ever bitter  or  baleful  passion  you  are 
conscious  aspires  to  the  mastery — watch 
it,  crucify  it,  "  nail  it  to  your  Lord's 
cross."     You  may  despise  "  tlie  day  of 


THE  MIND   OP  JESUS.  99 

small  things"  —  the  Great  Adversary 
does  not.  He  knows  the  power  of  littles; 
— that  little  by  little  consumes  and  eats 
out  the  vigour  of  the  soul.  And  once  the 
retrograde  movement  in  the  spiritual  life 
loegins,  who  can  predict  where  it  may 
end? — the  going  on  "  from  weakness  to 
weakness,"  instead  of  "from  strength 
to  strength."  Make  no  compromises ; 
never  join  in  the  ungodly  amusement,  or 
venture  on  the  questionable  path,  with 
the  plea,  "  It  does  me  no  harm."  The 
Israelites,  on  entering  Canaan,  instead 
of  obeying  the  Divine  injunction  of  ex- 
tirpating their  enemies,  made  a  hollow 
truce  with  them.  What  was  the  result  ? 
Years  upon  years  of  tedious  warfare. 
"  They  were  scourges  in  their  sides  and 
thorns  in  their  eyes  !  "  It  is  quaintly, 
but  truthfully  said  by  an  old  writer, 
"  Tlie  candle  will  never  burn  clear,  while 
there  is  a  thief  in  it.  Sin  indulged,  in 
the  conscience,  is  like  Jonah  in  the  ship, 
which  causeth  such  a  tempest,  that  tho 


100  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

conscience  is  like  a  troubled  sea,  whose 
waters  cannot  rest." — {Thomas  Brooks.) 

"  Keep,"  then,  "  thy  heart  with  all 
diligence,"  or,  (as  it  is  in  the  forcible 
original  Hebrew,)  "  keep  thy  heart  ohove 
all  kceping,^^  "  for  out  of  it  are  the  issues 
of  life  "  (Prov,  iv.  23).  Let  this  ever  be 
our  preservative  against  temptation, 
"  How  would  Jesus  have  acted  here  ? 
would  He  not  have  recoiled,  like  the 
sensitive  plant,  from  the  remotest  con- 
tact with  sin  ?  Can  I  think  of  dishon- 
ouring Him  by  tampering  with  His 
enemy  ; — incurring  from  his  own  lips 
the  bitter  reflection  of  iiijured  love, 
'I  am  wounded  in  the  house  of  my 
friends'  ?" 

He  tells  us  the  secret  of  our  preserva- 
tion and  safety,  "  Simon  !  Simon  I  Satan 
hath  desired  to  have  thee,  that  he  might 
sift  thee  as  wheat ;  hut  I  have  prayed 
for  thee  that  thy  faith  fail  not !  " 

•'  ARM   YOURSELVES  LIKEWISE  WITH  THE  BAME  MIND." 


THE  MIND   OF  JESUS.  101 


25th  Morning. 


"  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 
"  This  man  receiveth  slnnors." — Luke  xv.  2. 

^  .  .  The  ironical  taunt  of  proud 
flUrnning  ^^^  censorious  Pharisees 
mmm,  fopmed  the  glory  of  him  who 
came  "not  to  call  the  righteous,  but 
sinners,  to  repentance."  Publicans  and 
outcasts  ;  those  covered  with  a  deeper 
than  any  bodily  leprosy — laid  bare  their 
wounds  to  the  "  Great  Physician  ; "  and 
as  conscious  guilt  and  timid  penitence 
crept  abashed  and  imploring  to  His 
feet,  they  found  nothing  but  a  forgiving 
and  a  gracious  welcome  ! 

"  His  ways "  were  not  as  "  man's 
ways ! "  The  "  watchmen,"  in  the  Can- 
ticles, "  smote "  the  disconsolate  one 
seeking  her  lost  Lord  ;  they  tore  off  her 
veil,  mocking  with  chilling  unkindness 
her  anguished  tears.  Not  so  "the  Chief 
Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls."    "  This 


102  THE   MIND   OF   JESUS. 

man  recelvefJi  sinners ! "  See  at  Nico- 
demus,  stealing  under  the  shadows  of 
night  to  elude  observation — type  of  the 
thousand  thousand  who  in  every  age 
have  gone  trembling  in  their  night  of 
sin  and  sorrow  to  this  Heavenly  Friend ! 
Does  Jesus  punish  his  timidity  by  shut- 
ting His  door  against  him,  spurning  him 
from  his  presence  ? — "  He  will  not  break 
the  bruised  reed,  He  will  not  quench 
the  smoking  flax !  " 

And  He  is  still  the  same !  He  who 
arrested  a  persecutor  in  his  blasphemies, 
and  tuned  the  lips  of  an  expiring  felon 
with  faith  and  love,  is  at  this  hour 
standing  with  all  the  garnered  treas- 
ures of  Redemption  in  His  hand,  pro- 
claiming, "  Him  that  cometh  unto  Me,  I 
will  in  no  wise  cast  out ! " 

Are  we  from  this  to  think  lightly  of 
sin  ?  or  by  example  and  conduct  to  pal- 
liate and  overlook  its  enormity  ?  Not 
so  :  sin,  as  sin  can  never  be  sufficiently 
stamped  with  the  l^rand  of  reprobation. 


THE  MIND   OF  JESUS.  103 

But  we  must  seek  carefully  to  distin- 
guisli  between  the  offence  and  the  offen- 
der. Nothing  should  be  done  on  our 
part  by  word  or  deed  to  mock  the  pen- 
itential sighings  of  a  guilty  spirit,  or 
send  the  trembling  outcast  away,  with 
the  despairing  feeling  of  "  No  hope" 
*'  This  man  receiveth  sinners,"  and  shall 
not  we  f  Does  He  suffer  the  veriest 
dregs  of  human  depravity  to  crouch  un- 
bidden at  His  feet,  and  to  gaze  on  His 
forgiving  countenance  with  the  uplifted 
eye  of  hope,  and  shall  ive  dare  to  deal 
out  harsh,  and  severe,  and  crushing  ver- 
dicts on  an  offending  (it  may  be  a  deeply 
offending)  brother  ?  Shall  we  pronounce 
"  crimson  "  and  "  scarlet "  sins  and  sin- 
ners beyond  the  pale  of  mercy,  when 
Jesus  does  not?  Nay,  rather,  when 
wretchedness,  and  depravity,  and  back- 
sliding cross  our  path,  let  it  not  be  with 
the  bitter  taunt  or  the  ironical  retort 
that  we  bid  them  away.  Let  us  bear, — 
endure, —  remonstrate, —  deal   tenderly, 


104  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

Jesus  did  so,  Jesus  does  so  !  Ali !  if  we 
had  within  us  His  unconquerable  love 
of  souls ;  His  yearning  desire  for  the 
everlasting  happiness  of  sinners,  we 
should  be  more  frequently  in  earnest 
expostulation  and  affectionate  appeal 
with  those  who  have  hitherto  got  no 
other  than  harsh  thoughts  and  repulsive 
words.  If  this  "  mind  "  really  were  in 
us,  "  which  was  also  in  Him,"  we  should 
more  frequently  ask  ourselves,  "  Have  I 
done  all  I  might  have  done  to  pluck 
this  brand  from  the  burning  ?  Have  I 
remembered  what  grace  has  wrought, 
what  grace  can  do  ?  " 

"  Brethren,  if  any  of  you  do  err  from 
the  truth,  and  one  convert  him  ;  let 
him  know,  that  he  which  converteth  the 
sinner  from  the  error  of  his  way  shall 
save  a  soul  from  death,  and  shall  hide  a 
multitufie  of  sins ! " 

"arm   rOUR=^JBLVE3  UKEWISE  WITH  THE  SAME  JONB.'' 


THE    MIND    OF   JESUS.  105 


26iB  Morning 

"  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

•*  Neither  was  guile  found  ia  His  mouth." — 1  Pet.  n.  22. 

^  *,  ,  How  rare,   and    all    tho 

miklmnmn.  ^^^^  beautiful  because  of 
its  rarity,  is  a  purely  guileless  spirit ! 
A  crystalline  medium  through  which 
the  transparent  light  of  heaven  comes 
and  goes  ;  open,  candid,  just,  honourable, 
sincere,  scorning  every  unfair  dealing, 
every  hollow  pretension,  every  narrow 
prejudice.  Wherever  such  characters 
exist,  they  are  like  "  apples  of  gold,  in 
pictures  of  silver." 

Such,  in  all  the  loveliness  of  sinless 
perfection,  was  the  Son  of  God !  His 
guilelessness  shining  the  more  conspicu- 
ously amid  the  artful  and  malignant 
subtlety  alike  of  men  and  devils.  Pass- 
ing by  manifold  instances  in  the  course 
of  His  ministry,  look  at  its  manifesta- 
tion, as  thehour  of  His  death  approached. 


106  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

When,  on  the  night  of  his  apprehen* 
sion,  He  confronts  the  assassin  band,  in 
meek  majesty  He  puts  the  question, 
"Whom  seek  ye?"  They  say  to  him, 
"  Jesus  of  Nazareth."  In  guileless  inno- 
cence, he  replies,  "  I  am  He  !"  "  Art 
Thou  the  King  of  the  Jews?"  asks 
Pilate,  a  few  hours  after.  An  evasive 
answer  might  again  have  purchased 
immunity  from  suffering  and  indignity, 
but  once  more  the  lips  which  scorned 
the  semblance  of  evasion  reply,  "  Thou 
sayest !" 

How  He  loved  the  same  spirit  in  His 
people !  "  Behold,"  said  He  of  Nathan- 
ael,  "  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  is  no 
guile  r  That  upright  man  had,  we  may 
suppose,  been  day  after  day  kneeling  in 
prayer  under  his  fig-tree,  with  an  open 
and  candid  spirit — 

"  Musing  on  the  law  he  taught, 
And  waiting  for  the  Lord  he  loved." 

See  how  the  Saviour  honoured  him  ;  set- 
ting His  own  divine  seal  on  the  loveli- 


THE   MIND    OP   JESUS.  107 

ncfcs  of  this  same  spirit ! — Take  one  other 
example  :  when  the  startling, — sadden- 
ing announcement  is  made  to  the  disci- 
ples, "  One  of  you  shall  betray  me ;" 
they  do  not.  accuse  one  another  ;  they 
attempt  to  throw  no  suspicion  on  Judas  ; 
each  in  trembling  apprehension  suspects 
only  his  own  treacherous  heart,  "  Lord, 
is  it  I  r 

How  much  of  a  different  "  mind " 
is  there  abroad  !  In  the  school  of  the 
world  (this  "painted  world,")  how  much 
is  there  of  what  is  called  "  policy," 
double-dealing ! — accomplishing  its  ends 
by  tortuous  means;  outward  artificial 
polish,  often  only  a  cloak  for  baseness 
and  selfishness ! — in  the  daily  inter- 
change of  business,  one  seeking  to 
overreach  the  other  by  wily  arts  ; — 
sacrificing  principle  for  temporal  ad- 
vantage. There  is  nothing  so  deroga- 
tory to  religion  as  aught  allied  to  such 
a  spirit  among  Christ's  people — any 
Buch blots  on  the  "living  epistles."   "Ye 


108  THE   MIND   OF  JESUS. 

are  the  light  of  the  world."  That  world 
is  a  quick  observer.  It  is  sharp  to 
detect  inconsistencies, — slow  to  forget 
them.  The  true  Christian  has  been 
likened  to  an  anagram — you  ought  to 
be  able  to  read  him  up  and  down,  every 
way ! 

Be  all  reality,  no  counterfeit.  Do 
not  pass  for  current  coin  what  is  base 
alloy.  Let  transparent  honour  and  sin- 
cerity regulate  all  your  dealings;  despise 
all  meanness ;  avoid  the  sinister  motive, 
the  underhand  dealing ;  aim  at  that 
unswerving  love  of  truth  that  would 
scorn  to  stoop  to  base  compliances  and 
unworthy  equivocations  ;  live  more  un- 
der the  power  of  the  purifying  and 
ennobling  influences  of  the  gospel.  Take 
its  golden  rule  as  the  matchless  direc- 
tory for  the  daily  transactions  of  life — 
"Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should 
do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them." 

"arm  TOXTRSELVES  LIKB'VnSE  WITH  THK  SAME  mND." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  109 


27th  Morning. 


^*  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 

Christ  Jesus." 

"  I  must  work  tbo  works  of  Him  that  seut  me,  while  it  is 
day  ;  the  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can  work." — John 
IX.  4. 

n  n  *i    ♦     mi      How  constant  and  un- 

artinitii  III  Bntti.  ^^^.^^^^  ^^^  j,^„^ 

in  the  service  of  His  Heavenly  Father  I 
''  He  rose  a  great  while  before  day  ;" — 
and  whenHis  secret  communion  was  over, 
His  public  work  began.  It  mattered  not 
to  Him  where  He  was  :  whether  on  the 
bosom  of  the  deep,  or  a  mountain  slope, — 
in  the  desert,  or  at  a  well  side, — the  "  gra- 
cious words"  ever  "proceeded  out  of  His 
mouth."  We  find,  on  one  touching  oc- 
casion, exhausted  nature  sinking,  after  a 
day  of  unremitting  duty  ; — in  crossing 
in  a  vessel  the  Lake  of  Tiberias, — "^e 
fell  asleep  .^"  (Matt,  viii.)  He  redeemed 
every  precious  moment ;  His  words  to 
the  Pharisee  seem  at,  formula  for  all,  "Si- 
mon, I  have  somewhat  to  say  unto  thee/*^ 


110  THE  MIND   OP  JESUS. 

Oh,  how  our  most  unceasing  activities 
pale  into  nothing  before  such  an  exam- 
ple as  this !  Would  that  we  could  re- 
member that  each  of  us  has  some  great 
mission  to  perform  for  God  ; — that  re- 
ligion is  not  a  thing  of  dreamy  sentimen- 
talism,  but  of  energetic  practical  action ; 
moreover,  that  no  trade,  no  profession,  no 
position,  however  high  or  however  hum- 
ble in  the  scale  of  society,  can  disqualify 
for  this  life  of  Christian  activity  and  use- 
fulness !  Who  were  the  Writers  in  the 
Bible  ?  We  have  among  them  a  King — 
a  Lawgiver — a  Herdsman — a  Publican 
— a  Physician !  Nor  is  it  to  high  spheres, 
or  to  great  services  only,  that  God  looks. 
The  widow's  mite  and  Mary's  "  alabaster 
box  of  ointment"  are  recorded  as  exam- 
ples for  imitation  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
while  many  more  munificent  deeds  are 
passed  by  unrecorded.  We  believe  that 
God  says,  regarding  the  attempt  of  many 
a  humble  Christian  to  serve  Him  by  ac- 
tive duty,  "  T  saw  that  effort,  tliat  feMe 


THE   MIND    OF   JjdSUS.  IH 

effort,  to  serve  and  glorify  Me ;  it  was 
the  YGr J  feehleriess  of  it  I  loved  !" 

Did  it  never  strike  you,  notwithstand- 
ing the  dignity  of  Christ,  and  the  activi- 
ty of  Christ,  how  little  success  compara- 
tively He  met  with  in  His  public  work  ? 
We  read  of  no  numerous  conversions ;  no 
Pentecostal  revivals  in  the  course  of  His 
ministry.  May  not  this  well  encourage 
in  the  absence  of  great  outward  results  ? 
He  sets  up  no  higher  standard  than  this 
— "  She  hath  done  what  she  could." 
An  artist  may  be  great  in  painting  a 
peasant  as  well  as  a  king — it  is  the  way 
lie  does  it.  Yes,  and  if  laid  aside  from 
the  activities  of  the  Christian  life,  we  can 
equally  glorify  God  by  passive  endur- 
ance. "  Who  am  I,"  said  Luther,  when 
he  witnessed  the  patience  of  a  great 
sufferer,  "  who  am  I  ?  a  wordy  preacher 
in  comparison  with  this  great  doer.'' 

Reader !  forget  not  the  motive  of  our 
motto  verse,  "  The  night  cometh  !  "  Soon 
our  tale  shall  be  told ;  our  little  day  is 


112  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

flitting  fast,  the  shadows  of  night  are 
falling.  "  Our  span  length  of  time,"  as 
Rutherford  says,  "will  come  to  an  inch." 
What  if  the  eleventh  hour  should  strike 
after  having  been  "  all  the  day  idy^?  A 
long  lifetime  of  opportunities  suffered  to 
pass  unemployed  and  unimproved,  and  ab- 
solutely nothing  done  for  God !  A  judg- 
ment-day come — our  golden  moments 
squandered — our  talents  untraded  on — 
our  work  undone — met  at  the  bar  of 
Heaven  with  the  withering  repulse,  "  In- 
asmuch as  ye  did  it  not.^^  "  The  time  we 
have  lost,"  says  Richard  Baxter,  "  can- 
not be  recalled  ;  should  we  not  then  re- 
deem and  improve  the  little  that  re- 
mains? If  a  traveller  sleep  or  trifle 
most  of  the  day,  he  must  travel  so  much 
the  faster  in  the  evening,  or  fall  short 
of  his  journey's  end." 

"  ARM  YOURSELVES  LIKEWISE  WITH  THE  SAME  ICIIB." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  113 


28th  Mormxo. 

let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 

Christ  Jesus." 

"  But  committed  himself  to  Him  thcit  judgetb 
righteously. "_l  Peter  n.  28. 

Cnminitting  nnr  ^™  ^^^t  perfect  and 

inairtn«      ^^^^ir^  ^onfidmgness  did 
'  Jesus  commit  Himself 

to  His  Heavenly  Father's  guidance! 
He  loved  to  call  Him,  "  My  Father ! " 
There  was  music  in  that  name,  which 
enabled  Him  to  face  the  most  trying 
hour,  and  to  drink  the  most  bitter  cup. 
The  scoffing  taunt  arose  at  tlie  scene  of 
crucifixion,  "He  trusted  in  God  that  He 
would  deliver  Him,  let  Him  deliver 
Him !''  It  failed  to  shake,  for  one  mo- 
ment. His  unswerving  confidence,  even 
when  the  sensible  tokens  of  the  Divine 
presence  were  withdrawn  ;  the  realized 
consciousness  of  God's  abiding  love  sus- 
tained Him  still ;— "  My  God !  my  God !" 

How  many  a  perplexity  should  we 
save  ourselves,  by  thus  implicitly  "com- 
S 


114  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

mitting  ourselves,"  as  He  did,  to  G-od  I 
In  seasons  of  darkness  and  trouble- 
when  our  way  is  shut  up  with  thorns,  to 
lift  the  confiding  eye  of  faith  to  Him, 
and  say,  "  I  am  oppressed,  undertake 
for  me ! "  How  blessed  to  feel  that  He 
directs  all  that  befalls  us  ;  that  no  con- 
tingencies can  frustrate  His  plans  ;  that 
the  way  He  leads  us  is  not  only  a  "  right 
way," — ^but,with  all  its  briers  and  thorns, 
— its  tears  and  trials, — it  is  the  right 
way! 

The  result  of  such  an  habitual  stayiug 
ourselves  on  the  Lord,  will  be  a  deep, 
abiding  feace  ; — any  ripple  will  only  be 
on  the  surface — no  more.  It  is  the 
hosom  of  the  ocean  alone,  which  the 
storm  ruffles  ]  all  beneath  is  a  serene, 
settled  calm.  So  "  Thou  wilt  keep  him, 
0  God,  in  perfect  peace,  whose  mind  is 
stayed  on  Thee  !  " 

"  The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall 
not  want."  I  shall  be  content  alike  with 
what  He  appoints  or  withholds.     I  can- 


THE   MIND    OF    JESUS.  115 

not  wrong  that  love  with  one  shadow  of 
suspicion!  I  have  His  ov/n  plighted 
promise  of  unchanging  faithfulness,  that 
"  all  things  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  Him  ! "  Often  there  arc 
earthly  sorrows  hard  to  bear  ; — the  un- 
kind accusation,  when  it  was  least 
merited  or  expected  ; — the  estrangement 
of  tried  and  trusted  friends,  the  failure 
of  cherished  hopes,  favourite  schemes 
broken  up,  plans  of  usefulness  demol- 
ished, the  gourd  breeding  its  own 
worm  and  withering.  "  Commit  thy 
cause  and  thy  way  to  God !"  We  little 
know  what  tenderness  there  is  in  the 
blast  of  the  rough  wind  ;  what  "  needs 
be"  are  folded  under  the  wings  of  the 
storm!  "All  is  well,"  because  all  is 
from  Him.  "  Events  are  God's,"  says 
Rutherford  ;  "  let  Him  sit  at  His  own 
helm,  that  moderateth  all." 

Christian !  look  back  on  your  chequer- 
ed path.  How  wondrously  has  He 
threaded  you  through  the  mazy  way — 


116  THE   MIND   OF   JESUS. 

disappointing  your  fears,  realizing  your 
hopes !  Are  evils  looming  through  the 
mists  of  the  future  ?  Do  not  anticipate 
the  trials  of  to-morrow,  to  aggravate 
those  of  to-day.  Leave  the  morrow  with 
Him,  who  has  promised,  by  "  casting  all 
your  care  on  Him,  to  care  for  you."  No 
af&iction  will  be  sent  greater  than  you 
can  bear.  His  voice  will  be  heard  steal- 
ing from  the  bosom  of  the  threatening 
cloud,  "  Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am 
God ! " 

''My  Father r'  With  such  a  word, 
you  can  stretch  out  your  neck  for  any 
yoke ;  as  with  Israel  of  old,  He  will 
make  those  very  waves  that  may  now 
be  so  threatening,  a  fenced  wall  on 
every  side !  "  Rest  in  the  Lord,  and 
wait  patiently  for  Him."  "  Li  all  thy 
ways  acknowledge  Him,  and  He  shall 
direct  thy  paths !  " 

"  ABM  YOURSELVES  LIKEWISE  WITH  THE  SAME  BCDTO." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  Ill 


29th  Morntnq 


"Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus. 
"  Tliat  they  all  may  be  one."— Jonx  xvii.  21. 

i^JUrniuniiq,  .^g  for  which  Chris- 
tian churches  have  such  cause  to  hang 
their  harps  on  the  willows,  as  the  extent 
to  which  the  Shibboleth  of  party  is 
heard  in  the  camp  of  the  faithful— secta- 
rianism rearing  its  "  untempered  walls  " 
within  the  Temple  gates  ! 

How  different  "  the  mind  of  Jesus  !  " 
Sent  "  to  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of 
Israel,"  He  was  never  found  disowning 
"  other  sheep  not  of  that  fold."  "  Them 
also  will  I  bring,"  was  an  assertion  con- 
tinually illustrated  by  His  deeds.  Take 
one  example ;  The  woman  of  Samaria 
revealed  what,  alas !  is  too  common  in 
the  world — a  total  absence  of  all  real 
religion,  along  with  an  ardent  zeal  for 
her  sect.     She  wag  living  in  open  sin  ; 


118  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

yet  she  was  all  alive  to  the  nice  distinc- 
tion between  a  Jew  and  a  Samaritan — 
between  Mount  Geriziin  and  Blount 
Zion  ; — "  How  is  it  that  thou,  being  a 
Jew,  askest  drink  of  me,  who  am  a  wo- 
man of  Samaria  ?  "  Did  Jesus  sanction 
or  reciprocate  her  sectarianism  ? — did 
He  leave  her  bigotry  unrebuked  ?  Hear 
His  reply — "  If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of 
God,  and  who  it  is  that  saith  to  thee, 
Give  me  to  drink  ;  thou  wouldst  have 
asked  of  Him^  and  He  would  have  given 
thee  !  "  He  would  have  allowed  no  such 
narrow-minded  exclusiveness  to  have  in- 
terfered with  the  interchange  of  kindly 
civilities  with  a  stranger.  Nay,  He 
would  have  given  thee  better  than  all, 
the  "  living  water "  which  "  springeth 
up  to  everlasting  life  ! " 

How  sad,  that  when  the  enemy  is 
"  coming  in  like  a  flood  " — the  ranks  of 
Popery  and  infidelity  linked  in  fatal  and 
formidable  confederacy — that  the  sol- 
diers of  Christ  are  forced  to  meet  the 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  119 

assault  with  standards  soiled  and  muti- 
lated by  internal  feuds !  "  Uniformity  " 
there  may  not  be,  but  "unity,"  in  the 
true  sense  of  the  word,  there  ought  to  be. 
We  may  be  clad  in  different  livery,  but 
let  us  stand  side  by  side,  and  rank  by 
rank,  fighting  the  battles  of  our  Lord. 
We  may  be  different  branches  of  the 
seven  golden  candlesticks,  varying  and 
diversified  in  outward  form  and  work- 
manship ;  but  let  us  combine  in  "  shew- 
ing forth  the  praises  of  Him  "  who  re- 
cognizes as  the  one  true  "  churchman- 
ship — fidelity  in  shining  for  His  glory 
"  as  lights  in  the  world."  How  can  we 
read  the  13th  chapter  of  1st  Corinth- 
ians, and  then  think  of  our  divisions  ? 
"  How  miserable,"  says  Edward  Bicker- 
steth,  "  would  an  hospital  be,  if  each 
patient  were  to  be  so  offended  with  his 
neighbour's  disease,  as  to  differ  with 
him  on  account  of  it,  instead  of  trying 
to  alleviate  it !  " 
xVh  !  if  we  had  more  real  communion 


120  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

witli  our  Saviour,  should  we  not  "have 
more  real  communion  with  one  another  ? 
If  Christians  would  dip  their  arrows 
more  in  "  the  balm  of  Gilead,"  would 
there  not  be  fewer  wounds  in  the  body 
of  Christ  ?  "  How  that  word  '  tolera- 
tion '  is  used  amongst  us  !  "  said  one  who 
drank  deeper  than  most,  of  his  Master's 
spirit — "  how  we  tolerate  one  another 
— Dissenters  tolerate  Churchmen,  and 
Churchmen  tolerate  Dissenters  !  Oh  ! 
hateful  word !  Tolerate  one  for  whom 
Jesus  died !  Tolerate  one  whom  He 
bears  upon  His  heart !  Tolerate  a  tem- 
ple of  the  living  God !  Oh  !  there  ought 
to  be  that  in  the  word  which  should 
make  us  feel  ashamed  before  God  ! " 

**AEM  YOURSELVES  LIKEWISE  -WXrH  THE  SAKE  MDID." 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  121 


80th  Morniko. 


^'Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus. " 

"  I  am  not  of  the  world." — Jonx  xvn.  14. 

^^  ,    r,[      In  one  sense  it  was  tzo^  so. 

^il  I>r  Jesus  did  not  seek  to  main- 
*  tain  His  holiness  intact  and 
unspotted  by  avoiding  contact  with  the 
world.  He  mingled  familiarly  in  its 
busy  crowds.  He  frowned  on  none  of 
its  innocent  enjoyments  ;  He  fostered,  by 
His  example,  no  love  of  seclusion  ;  He 
gave  no  warrant  or  encouragement  to 
mortified  pride,  or  disappointed  hopes, 
to  rush  from  its  duties ; — yet,  with  all 
this,  what  a  halo  of  heavenliness  en- 
circled His  pathway  through  it !  "I 
am  from  above,"  was  breathed  in  His 
every  look,  and  word,  and  action,  from 
the  time  when  He  lay  in  the  slumbers  of 
guileless  infancy  in  His  Bethlehem 
cradle,  until  He  said,  "  I  leave  the  world, 
and  go  to  uiy  Father  !  "    He  had  moved 


122  THE   MTND    OF   JESUS. 

ancontaminated  through  its  varied 
scenes,  like  the  sunbeam,  which,  what- 
ever it  touches,  remains  as  unsullied  as 
when  it  issues  from  its  great  fountain. 

But  though  Himself  in  His  sinless  na- 
ture "  unconquerable  "  by  temptation, — 
immutably  secure  from  the  world's  ma- 
lignant influences,  it  is  all  worthy  of 
note,  as  an  example  to  us,  that  He  never 
unnecessarily  braved  these.  He  knew 
the  seducing  spell  that  same  world  would 
exercise  on  His  people,  of  whom,  with 
touching  sympathy,  He  says,  "  These  are 
in  the  world  !  "  He  knew  the  many  who 
would  be  involved  and  ensnared  in  its 
subtle  worship,  who,  "  minding  earthly 
things,"  would  seek  to  slake  their  thirst 
at  polluted  streams ! 

Reader !  the  great  problem  you  have 
to  solve,  Jesus  has  solved  for  you — to  be 
"  in  the  world,  and  yet  not  o/"  it."  To 
abandon  it,  would  be  a  dereliction  of 
duty.  It  would  be  servants  deserting 
their  work  ; — soldiers  flying   from  the 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  123 

battle-field.  Live  in  it,  that  while  you 
live,  the  world  may  feel  the  better  for 
you.  Die,  that  lulien  you  die,  the 
world, — the  Church, — may  feel  your 
loss,  and  cherish  your  example  !  On  its 
cares  and  duties,  its  trusts  and  respon- 
sibilities, its  employments  and  enjoy- 
ments, inscribe  the  motto,  "  The  world 
passeth  away  !  "  Beware  of  everything 
in  it  that  would  tend  to  deaden  spirit- 
uality of  heart  ; — unfitting  the  mind  for 
serious  thought,  lowering  the  standard 
of  Christian  duty,  and  inducing  a  peril- 
ous conformity  to  its  false  manners, 
habits,  tastes,  and  principles.  As  the 
best  antidote  to  the  love  of  the  world, 
let  the  inner  vacuum  of  the  heart  be 
filled  with  the  love  of  God.  Seek  to 
feel  the  nobility  of  your  regenerated  na- 
ture ; — that  you  have  a  nobler  heritage 
to  care  for  than  the  transitory  glories 
which  encircle  "  an  indivisible  point,  a 
fugitive  atom."  How  can  I  mix  with 
the  potsherds  of  the  earth?     Once,  "I 


124  THE   MIND    OP   JESUS. 

lav  among  the  pots  ;"  now,  I  am  "  liko 
a  dove,  whose  wings  are  covered  with 
silver,  and  her  feathers  with  yellow 
gold  !  "  "  Stranger  ; — pilgrim  ; — so- 
journer ;" — "  my  citizenship  is  in  lieav- 
en ! "  Why  covet  tinsel  honours  and 
glories  ?  Why  be  solicitous  about  the 
smiles  of  that  which  knew  not  (nay, 
which  frowned  on)  its  Lord  ?  "  Paul 
calls  it,"  says  an  old  writer,  "  saiema  (a 
mathematical  figure),  which  is  a  more 
notion,  and  nothing  in  substance.'' — 
(Thomas  Brooks.) 

Live  above  its  corroding  cares  and 
anxieties  ;  remembering  the  description 
Jesus  gives  of  His  own  true  people, 
"  They  are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I 
am  not  of  the  world !  " 

"  ABM  TOURSBCTES  UKEWISK   WTTH  THE  SAME  MOID," 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  125 


31  bT  MORNINQ. 


"  Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus." 

«  Father,  into  Thy  hands  I  commend  My  spirit." — 
Luke  xxm.  46. 

J,  1     ♦     In  the  death  of  Jesus  there 

CnlinnM  in  ^.^^  ^j^^^^^s  of  fearful- 


ness,  which  the  believer 
can  know  nothing  of.  It  was  with  Him 
the  execution  of  a  penal  sentence.  The 
sins  of  an  elect  world  were  bearing 
Him  down !  The  very  voice  of  His 
God  was  heard  giving  the  tremendous 
summons,  "  Awake,  0  sword,  against  my 
shepherd  I "  Yet  his  was  a  death  of 
peace,  nay,  of  triumph  I  Ere  He  closed 
His  eyes,  li^ht  broke  through  the  cur- 
tains of  tliick  darkness.  In  the  calm 
composure  of  filial  confidence  He  breatii- 
ed  away  His  soul, — "  Father,  into  Thy 
hands  I  commend  My  spirit ! "  What 
was  the  secret  of  such  tranquillity? 
This  is  His  own  key  to  it — "  I  have 


126  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

glorilied  Thee  on  the  earth,  I  have  finish- 
ed the  work  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do." 
Reader !  will  it  be  so  with  you  at  a 
dying  hour?  will  your  "work"  be  done? 
Have  you  already  fled  to  Jesus  ?  Are 
you  reposing  in  him  as  your  only  Sav- 
iour, and  following  him  as  your  only 
pattern?  Then — let  death  overtake  you 
when  it  may — you  will  have  nothing  to 
do  hut  to  die!  The  grave  will  be  irradi- 
ated with  His  presence  and  smile.  He 
will  be  standing  there  as  He  did  by  His 
own  tomb  of  old,  pointing  to  yours,  ten- 
anted with  angel  forms,  nay,  Himself 
as  the  "  Precursor,"  shewing  you  "  the 
path  of  life  I  ^^  There  can  be  no  true 
peace  till  the  fear  of  death  be  conquered 
by  the  sense  of  sin  forgiven,  through 
"  the  blood  of  the  Cross."  "  Not  till 
then,"  as  one  hath  it,  "  will  you  be  able 
to  be  a  quiet  spectator  of  the  open 
grave  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill  which 
you  are  soon  to  descend."  "  The  sting 
of  death  is  sin,  bat  thanks  be  to  God 


THE   MIND    OF   JESUS.  127 

who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ ! " 

Seek  now  to  live  in  the  enjoyment  of 
greater  filial  nearness  to  your  covenant 
God  ;  and  thus,  when  the  hour  of  de- 
parture does  come,  you  will  be  able, 
without  irreverence,  to  take  the  very 
words  of  your  dying  Lord,  and  make 
them  your  own — "Father,  into  Thy 
hands  I  commend  my  spirit.''  Father  ! 
It  is  going  home! — The  heart  of  the 
child  leaping  at  the  thought  of  the  pa- 
ternal roof,  and  the  paternal  welcome 
"  Son,  thou  art  ever  with  me,  and  all 
that  I  have  is  thine !  " 

It  is  said  of  Archbishop  Leighton, 
that  he  "  was  always  happiest  when,  from 
the  shaking  of  the  prison  doors,  he  was 
led  to  hope  that  some  of  those  brisk 
blasts  would  throw  them  open,  and  give 
him  the  release  he  coveted !  Christian  I 
can  you  dread  that  which  your  Saviour 
has  already  vanquished!  Death!  It  is 
as  the  angel  to  Peter,  breaking  the  dun- 


128  THE   MIND    OF   JESUS. 

geon  doors,  and  leading  to  open  day  ; — 
it  is  going  to  tlie  world  of  your  birth- 
right, and  leaving  the  one  of  your  exile ; 
— "  it  is  the  soldier  at  nightfall  lying 
down  in  his  tent  in  peace,  waiting  the 
morning  to  receive  his  laurels."  Oh ! 
to  be  ever  living  in  a  state  of  holy  prep- 
aration!— the  mental  eye  gazing  on  the 
vista-view  of  an  opening  Heaven ! — 
feeling  that  every  moment  is  bringing  us 
nearer  and  nearer  that  happy  Home  I — 
soon  to  be  within  reach  of  the  Heavenly 
threshold,  in  sight  of  the  Throne ! — 
soon  to  be  bending  in  adoring  rapture 
with  the  Church  triumphant— bathing 
in  floods  of  inSnite  glory — "  LIKE 
HIM," — "  seeing  Him  as  he  is,^^  and  that 
for  Ever  and  Ever  ! 

"  And  every  max  that  hath  this  hope  i\  him  PURmjrrn 

HIMSELF,  EA'EX  AS  He  IS  PURE  !  " 

"Leaving  us  an  Example,  that  ye  should  foixow  Hl9 
."—1  Pet.  n.  21. 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS 


t  Wuh  of  '^mB. 


•<  A  woRi)  spoken  in  season,"  saj'S  tHe  wise  man,  «<  how 
good  it  is  :  "  If  this  be  true  regarding  the  utterances  uf 
uninspired  lips,  with  what  devout  and  paramount  interest 
must  we  invest  the  sayings  of  Incarnate  Truth — "  the  words 
J?  Jescs  I  " 

AVe  have,  in  the  motto-verses  which  head  the  succeeding 
pages,  a  few  comforting  responses  from  the  Oracle  of  heav- 
enly Wisdom — a  few  grapes  plucked  from  the  True  Vine — 
living  streams  welling  fresh  from  the  Living  Fountain.  Every 
portion  of  Sci'ipture  is  designed  for  nutriment  to  the  soul 
— "  the  bread  of  Life  ;  "  but  surely  we  tnay  well  regard  the 
recorded  ^*  Words  of  Jesus"  as  "  the  finest  of  the  wheat." 
These  are  the  "  Honey  "  out  of  the  true  "  Rock,"  with  which 
Ha  will  "  satisfy  "  us.  The  words  that  I  speak  unto  you, 
they  are  spirit  and  they  are  life. 

The  foiiowmg  are  selecte  i  more  especially  as  "  Words  for 
the  Weary" — healing  loaves  for  the  wounded  spirit,  falling 
from  the  Tree  of  Life  Jesus  was  divinely  qualified  for  the 
special  office  of  speaking  "  many  and  comfortable  words." 
"  The  TiOrd  God  hatli  given  me  the  tongue  of  the  learned, 
that  I  might  know  how  to  speak  a  Word  in  Season  to  him 
that  is  weary." 

Let  us,  like  the  disciple  of  Patmos,  turn  to  hear  the  voice 
that  speaks  to  us,  saying,  "  I  wait  for  the  Lord,  my  soul  doth 
v/ait,  and  in  His  Word  do  I  hope."  Eighteen  hundred  years 
have  elapsed  since  these  "words"  were  uttered.  With 
tones  of  unaltered  and  unchanged  affection,  they  are  still 
echoed  from  the  inner  sanctuary — they  come  this  day  fr(!sli 
as  they  were  spoken,  from  the  lips  of  Him  whoso  memorial 
to  all  time  is  this  :  "  Ikat  same  Jesus." 

Reader  I  seek  to  realise,  in  mo.litatiug  on  them   the  simple 
but  solemn  truth — "  Christ  speaks  to  me!"  surely  nothing 
can  be  more  soothing  with  which  to  close  your  eyes  on  your 
nightly    pillow,  than— "A  WORD  OF  JESUS." 
(2) 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 


1st  Evening  of  Month. 

"  Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and 
I  will  give  you  rest." — Matt.  xi.  28. 

^1      ^     .         Gracious    "word"  of 

Ci    ^  T-  a  gracious  Saviour,  on 

.limitallQIl.       ^j^.^jj  j.|^g  g^^j  ^^^  ^^^^_ 

fidingly  repose  and  be  at  peace  for 
ever !  It  is  a  present  rest — the  rest  of 
grace  as  well  as  the  rest  of  glory.  Not 
only  are  there  signals  of  peace  hung 
out  from  the  walls  of  heaven — the  lights 
of  Home  glimmering  in  the  distance 
to  cheer  our  footsteps  ;  but  we  have 
the  "  shadow  "  of  this  "  great  Rock  "  in 
a  present  "  weary  land."  Before  the 
Throne  alone  is  there  "the  sea  of 
glass,"  without  one  rippling  wave  ;  but 
thei'e  is  a  haven  even  on  earth  for  the 
tempest-tossed  — "  We  which  have  be- 
lieved DO  enter  into  rest." 

Reader  !  hast  thou  found  this  blessed 


4  THE  WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

repose  in  the  blood  and  work  of  Im- 
maiiuel  ?  Long  going  about  "  seeking 
rest  and  finding  none,"  does  this  "word  " 
sound  like  music  in  thine  ears — "  Come 
untoMe'^?  All  other  peace  is  counter- 
feit, shadowy,  unreal.  The  eagle  spurns 
the  gilded  cage  as  a  poor  equivalent  for 
his  free-born  soarings.  The  soul's  im- 
mortal aspirations  can  be  satisfied  with 
nothing  short  of  the  possession  of  God's 
favour  and  love  in  Jesus. 

How  unqualified  is  the  invitation! 
If  there  had  been  one  condition  on  en- 
tering this  covenant  Ark,  we  must  have 
been  through  eternity  at  the  mercy  of 
the  storm.  But  all  are  alike  warranted 
and  welcome,  and  none  more  warranted 
tlian  welcome.  For  the  weak,  the 
weary,  the  sin-burdened  and  sorrow- 
burdened,  there  is  an  open  door  of 
grace. 

Return,  then,  unto  thy  rest,  0  my 
soul!  Let  the  sweet  cadence  of  this 
"  word  of  Jesus  "  steal  on  thee  amid  the 


THE   WORDS    OF   JESUS.  5 

disquietudes  of  earth.  Sheltered  in  Him, 
thou  art  safe  for  time,  safe  for  eternity  1 
There  may  be,  and  will  be  temporary 
tossings,  fears,  and  misgivings, — mani- 
festations of  inward  corruption ;  but 
these  will  only  be  like  the  surface  heav- 
iugs  of  the  ocean,  while  underneath 
there  is  a  deep,  settled  calm.  "  Thou 
wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace"  (R 
peace,  peace)  "  whose  uiind  is  stayed  on 
Thee."  In  the  world  it  is  care  on  care, 
trouble  on  trouble,  sin  on  sin ;  but  ev- 
ery wave  that  breaks  on  the  believer's 
soul  seems  sweetly  to  murmur  "  Peace, 
peace ! " 

And  if  the  foretaste  of  this  rest  be 
precious,  what  must  be  the  glorious 
consummation?  Awaking  in  the  morn- 
ing of  immortality,  with  the  unquiet 
dream  of  earth  over — faith  lost  in  sight 
and  hope  in  fruition  ; — no  more  any  bias 
to  sin — no  more  latent  principles  of 
evil — nothing  to  disturb  the  spirit's  deep 
everlasting  tranquillity — the  trembling 


6  THE   WORDS    OF   JESUS. 

magnet  of  the  heart,  reposing  where 
alone  it  can  confidingly  and  permanent- 
ly rest  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  Infinite 
God. 


THBSB  THINGS  HAVE  I  SPOKEN   UNTO  YOU,   THAT   fW 
JDGHT  HAVB  PEACE.  ' 


THE  WORDS   OP  JESUS. 


2d  Evenlxq. 


"Kemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  Your  hcavenl.r  Father  knoweth  that  ye  have  ueed  of  all 
these  things.  "—Matt.  ^^.  32. 

^7>L  fr  r  !♦  Though  spoken  orio^- 
'(Kk  (Cnrnforting  ^^.^y  by  Jesus  regard- 

ilBSUraiia.  ^^^  temporal  things, 
this  may  be  taken  as  a  motto  for  the 
child  of  God  amid  all  the  changing 
vicissitudes  of  his  changing  history. 
How  it  should  lull  all  misgivings ;  si- 
lence all  murmurings  ;  lead  to  lowly, 
unquestioning  submissiveness  —  "  My 
Heavenly  Father  knoweth  that  I  have 
need  of  all  these  things." 

Where  can  a  child  be  safer  or  better 
than  in  a  father's  hand  ?  Where  can 
the  believer  be  better  than  in  the  hands 
of  his  God  ?  We  are  poor  judges  of 
what  is  best.  We  are  under  safe  guid- 
ance with  infallible  wisdom.  If  we  are 
tempted  in  a  moment  of  rash  presump- 
tion to  say,  'All  these  things  are  against 


8  THE  WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

me,''  let  this  "  word  "  rebuke  tlie  hasty 
and  unworthy  surmise.  Unerring  wis- 
dom and  Fatherly  love  have  pronounced 
all  to  be  "  needful." 

My  soul,  is  there  aught  that  is  dis- 
turbing thy  peace  ?  Are  providences 
dark,  or  crosses  heavy  ?  Are  spiritual 
props  removed,  creature  comforts  cur- 
tailed, gourds  smitten  and  withered  like 
grass? — write  on  each,  ^^Your  Father 
knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  all  these 
things^  It  was  He  who  increased  thy 
burden.  Why?  ^' It  luas  neededy  It 
was  He  who  smote  down  thy  clay 
idol.  Why?  ''It  luas  needed:'  It 
was  supplanting  Himself;  He  had  to 
remove  it!  It  was  He  who  crossed 
thy  woildly  schemes,  marred  thy  cher- 
ished hopes.  Why  ?  "  It  teas  needed^ 
There  was  a  lurking  thorn  in  the  cov- 
eted path.  There  was  some  hi^-her 
spiritual  blessing  in  reversion.  "  He 
prevented'  thee  witl  the  blessings  of 
His  goodness." 


THE    WORDS    OF   JESUS.  9 

Seek  to  clierisli  a  spirit  of  more 
child-like  coniidence  in  thy  Heavenly 
Father's  will.  Thoa  art  not  left  unbe- 
fri ended  and  alone  to  buffet  the  storms 
of  the  wilderness.  Thy  Marahs  as  well 
as  thy  Elims  are  appointed  by  Him. 
A  ,£cracious  pillar-cloud  is  before  thee. 
Follow  it  through  sunshine  and  storm. 
He  may  "  lead  thee  about,"  but  He  will 
not  lead  thee  wrong.  Unutterable  ten- 
derness is  the  characteristic  of  all  His 
dealings.  "  Blessed  be  His  name,"  says 
a  tried  believer,  "  He  maketh  my  feet 
like  hinds'  feet"  (?te'a%,  "  equalleth  " 
them),  "  he  equalleth  them  for  every 
precipice,  every  ascent,  every  leap." 

And  who  is  it  that  speaks  this  quiet- 
ing word  ?  It  is  He  who  Himself  felt 
the  preciousness  of  the  assurance  dur- 
ing His  own  awful  sufferings,  that  all 
were  needed,  and  all  appointed  ;  that 
from  Bethlehem's  cradle  to  Calvary's 
Cross  there  was  not  the  redundant  thorn 
in   the   chaplet   of  sorrow    which   He, 


10  THE    WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

tlie  Man  of  Sorrows,  bore.  E^ery  drop 
in  His  bitter  cup  was  mingled  by  His 
Father :  "  This  cup  which  Thou  givest 
me  to  drink,  shall  I  not  drink  it  ? " 
Oh,  if  He  could  extract  comfort  in  this 
hour  of  inconceivable  agony,  in  the 
thought  that  a  Father's  hand  lighted 
the  fearful  furnace-fires,  what  strong 
consolation  is  there  in  the  same  truth 
to  all  His  suffering  people ! 

What!  one  superfluous  drop!  one 
redundant  pang !  one  unneeded  cross ! 
Hush  the  secret  atheism!  He  gave 
His  Son  for  thee!  He  calls  Himself 
"  thy  Father  !  "  Whatever  be  the  trial 
under  which  thou  art  now  smarting,  let 
the  word  of  a  gracious  Saviour  be 
"  like  oil  thrown  on  the  fretful  sea  ; '' 
let  it  dry  every  rebellious  tear-drop. 
*'  He,  thine  unerring  Parent,  knoweth 
Ihat  thou  hast  need  of  this  as  well  aa 
oil  these  things." 


THT  WORD  IS  VERT  SURE,  THEREFORE  THY  SERVANT 
LO'S'ETH  IT." 


THE   WORDS    OF    JESUS.  I   I 


3d  EyE«  ,  i 

**  Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will  I  do,  that 
the  Father  may  be  glorified  in  the  Son."— John  xiv.  13. 

tfU  -ii^^r..  «-P  Blessed   Jesus!    it    is 
'^  Jlrr!  Thou  who  hast  unlocked 

V^W^'  to  Thy  people  the  gates 
of  prayer.  Without  Thee  they  must 
have  been  shut  forever.  It  was  Thr 
atoning  merit  on  earth  that  first  opened 
them ;  it  is  Thy  intercessory  work  in 
heaven  that  keeps  them  open  still. 

How  unlimited  the  promise — "  What- 
soever ye  shall  ash  P^  It  is  the  pledge 
of  all  that  the  needy  sinner  requires — 
all  that  an  Omnipotent  Saviour  can 
bestow !  As  the  great  Steward  of  the 
mysteries  of  grace,  He  seems  to  say  to 
His  faithful  servants,  "Take  thy  bill, 
and  under  this  my  superscription,  write 
what  you  please."  And  then,  when  the 
blank  is  filled  up,  he  further  endorses 


12  THE  WORDS   OP  JESUS. 

each  petition  with  the  words,  "  1  will 
do  it !  " 

He  farther  encourages  us  to  ask  "  in 
His  namey  In  the  case  of  an  earthly 
petitioner  there  are  some  pleas  more  in- 
fluential in  obtaining  a  boon  tlian  oth- 
ers. Jesus  spake  of  this  as  forming  the 
key  to  the  heart  of  God.  As  David 
loved  the  helpless  cripple  of  Saul's  house 
"/or  Jonathan's  saTie,''  so  will  the  Fa- 
ther, by  virtue  of  our  covenant  relation- 
ship to  the  true  Jonathan  {J.it.,  "  the 
gift  of  God"),  delight  in  giving  us  even 
"exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that 
we  can  ask  or  think." 

Reader  !  do  you  know  the  blessedness 
of  confiding  your  every  want  and  every 
care — your  every  sorrow  and  every 
cross — into  the  ear  of  the  Saviour  ?  He 
is  the  "  Wonderful  Counsellor."  With 
an  exquisitely  tender  sympathy  He  can 
enter  into  the  innermost  depths  of  your 
need.  That  need  may  be  great,  but  the 
everlasting  arms  are  underneath  it  all. 


THE   WORDS   OF    JESUS.  13 

Think  of  Him  now,  at  this  moment — 
the  groat  Angel  of  the  Covenant,  with 
the  censer  full  of  much  incense,  in 
which  are  placed  your  feeblest  aspira- 
tions, your  most  burdened  sighs — the 
odour-breathing  cloud  ascending  with 
acceptance  before  the  Father's  throne. 
The  answer  may  tarry ;  these  your 
supplications  may  seem  to  be  kept  long 
on  the  wing,  hovering  around  the  mer- 
cy-seat. A  gracious  God  sometimes 
sees  it  meet  thus  to  test  the  faith  and 
patience  of  His  people.  He  delights  to 
hear  the  music  of  their  importunate 
pleadings — to  see  them  undeterred  by 
difficulties — unrepelled  by  apparent  for- 
getfulness  and  neglect.  But  He  luill 
come  at  last ; — the  pent-up  fountain  of 
love  and  mercy  will  at  length  burst  out ; 
— the  soothing  accents  will  in  His  own 
good  time  be  heard,  '"Be  it  unto  thee 
according  to  thy  word  !" 

Soldier  of  Christ !  with  all  thine  oth- 
er panoplj,  forget  not  the  ^^ All-prayer.^' 


14  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

It  is  that  which  keeps  bright  and  shin- 
ing "  the  whole  armour  of  God."  While 
yet  oat  in  the  night  of  a  dark  world — 
whilst  still  bivouacking  in  an  enemy's 
coujitry — kindle  thy  watch-fires  at  the 
altar  of  incense.  Thou  must  be  Moses, 
pleading  on  the  mount,  if  thou  wouldst 
be  Joshua,  victorious  in  the  world's 
daily  battle.  Confide  thy  cause  to  this 
waiting  Redeemer.  Thou  canst  not 
weary  Ilim  with  thine  importunity.  He 
delights  in  hearing.  His  Father  is  glo- 
rified in  giving.  The  memorable  Beth- 
any-utterance remains  unaltered  and 
unrepealed — "  I  knew  that  Thou  hear- 
est  me  always."  He  is  still  the  "  Prince 
that  has  power  with  God  and  prevails" 
— still  He  promises  and  pleads — still 
He  lives  and  loves ! 


"  I   WAIT    FOR    THE  LORD,    MY    SOUL    DOTH    WAIT,  AKD 
IN    HIS    WORD    DO    I   HOPE." 


THE   WOllDS   OF   JESUS.  15 


4tu  E\-k\ing 

"Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"- 

"What  I  do  tliou  knowest  not  now  ;  but  thou  slialt  know 
hereafter." — John   xiii.  7. 

mump,  tery  sliall  be  unfolded, 
when  the  "  fountains  of  the  great  deep 
shall  be  broken  up,"  "  tlie  channels  of 
the  water  seen,"  and  all  discovered  to  be 
one  vast  revelation  of  unerring  wisdom 
and  ineffable  love !  Here  we  are  often 
baffled  at  the  Lord's  dispensations  ;  we 
cannot  fathom  his  ways  : — like  the  well 
of  Sychar,  they  are  deep,  and  we  have 
nothing  to  draw  with.  But  soon  the 
"  mystery  of  God  will  be  finished ;" 
the  enigmatical  "  seals,"  with  all  their 
inner  meanings,  opened.  When  that 
"  morning  without  clouds  "  shall  break, 
each  soul  will  be  like  the  angel  stand- 
ing in  the  sun — there  will  be  no 
shadow  ;  all  will   be   perfect  day ! 


It)  THE    WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

Believer,  be  still  I  Tlie  dealings  of 
thy  Heavenly  Father  may  seem  dark  to 
thee ;  there  may  seem  now  to  be  no 
golden  fringe,  no  "  bright  light  in  the 
clouds ;"  but  a  day  of  disclosures  is 
at  hand.  "  Take  it  on  trust  a  little 
while. "  An  earthly  child  takes  on 
trust  what  his  father  tells  him  :  when 
he  reaches  maturity,  much  that  was 
baffling  to  his  infant  Cvomprehension  is 
explained.  Thou  art  in  this  world  in 
the  nonage  of  thy  being — Eternity  is 
the  soul's  immortal  manhood.  There 
every  dealing  will  be  vindicated.  It 
will  lose  all  its  "  darkness "  when 
bathed  in  the  floods  "  of  the  excellent 
glory !" 

Ah !  instead  of  thus  being  as  weaned 
children,  how  apt  are  we  to  exercise  our- 
selves in  matters  too  high  for  us  1  not 
content  with  knowing  that  our  father 
wills  it,  but  presumptuously  seeking  to 
know  how  it  is,  and  why  it  is.  If  it  be 
unfair  to  pronounce  on  the  unfinislied 


THE    WORDS   OF   JESUS.  17 

and  incompleted  works  of  man  ;  if  the 
painter,  or  sculptor,  or  artificer,  would 
shrink  from  having  his  labours  judged 
of  when  in  a  rough,  unpolished,  imma- 
tured  state  ;  how  much  more  so  with 
the  works  of  God!  How  we  should 
lionour  Him  by  a  simple,  confiding,  un- 
reserved submission  to  His  will, — con- 
tented patiently  to  wait  the  fulfilment 
of  this  "/iereo/ifer"  promise,  when  all 
the  lights  and  shadows  in  the  now  half- 
finished  picture  will  be  blended  and 
melted  into  one  harmonious  whole, — 
when  all  the  now  disjointed  stones  in 
the  temple  will  be  seen  to  fit  into  their 
appointed  place,  giving  unity,  and  com- 
pactness, and  symmetry,  to  all  the 
building. 

And  who  is  it  that  speaks  these  living 
"words,"  "What  /do?"  It  it  He 
who  died  for  us !  who  now  lives  for  us ! 
Blessed  Jesus !  Thou  mayest  do  much 
that  our  blind  hearts  would  like  un- 
done, — "  terrible  things  in  righteousness 


18  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

which  we  looked  not  for."  The  heaviest 
(what  we  may  be  tempted  to  call  the  se- 
verest) cross  Thou  canst  lay  upon  us 
we  shall  regard  as  only  the  apparerd 
severity  of  unutterable  and  unalterable 
love.  Eternity  will  unfold  how  all^  all 
was  needed  ;  that  nothing  else,  nothing 
less^  could  have  done !  If  not  now,  at 
least  then,  the  deliberate  verdict  on  a 
calm  retrospect  of  life  will  be  this, — 

♦   THE  WORD    OF  THE    LORD    IS    RIGHT,    AND    ALL    HIS 
WOBEB   AHB  DONE   IN   XBUTII-" 


THE   WORDS   OF  JESUS.  19 

6th  Evkotno. 

"Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"Herein  is  my  Father  glorified,  that  ye  bear  mmh  fruiV* 
— John  XV.  8. 

rffr  4f  ifr  r  ^^^^  survejiag  the  bound- 
l[  rfl  l^ss  oc®^^  ^^  covenant  mercy 
apinriUBU.    — ^^^^^^^^^  chiming, "  God 

is  Love !"  does  the  thought  never  pre- 
sent itself,  "What  can  I  do  for  this 
great  Being  who  hath  done  so  much  for 
me  ?"  Recompense,  I  cannot !  No  more 
can  my  purest  services  add  one  iota  to 
His  underived  glory,  than  the  tiny  taper 
can  add  to  the  blaze  of  the  sun  at  noon- 
day, or  a  drop  of  water  to  the  bound- 
less ocean.  Yet,  wondrous  thought! 
from  this  worthless  soul  of  mine  there 
may  roll  in  a  revenue  of  glory  which 
He  who  loves  the  broken  and  contrite 
spirit  will  "  not  despise."  "  Herein  is 
my  Father  glorified,  that  ye  hear  miich 
fruit." 


20  THE   WORDS    OF   JESUS. 

Reader !  are  you  a  fruit-bearer  in 
your  Lord's  vineyard  ?  Are  you  seek- 
ing to  make  life  one  grand  net  of  con- 
secration to  His  glory — one  thank- offer- 
ing for  His  unmerited  love  ?  You  may 
be  unable  to  exhibit  much  fruit  in  the 
eye  of  the  world.  Your  circumstances 
and  position  in  life  may  forbid  you  to 
point  to  any  splendid  services,  or  labo- 
rious and  imposing  efforts  in  the  cause 
of  God.  It  matters  not.  It  is  often 
those  fruits  that  are  unseen  and  un- 
known to  man,  ripening  in  seclusion, 
that  He  values  most ; — the  quiet,  lowly 
walk — patience  and  submission — gen- 
tleness and  humility — putting  yourself 
nnreservedly  in  His  hands — willing  to 
he  led  by  Him  even  in  darkness — say- 
ing. Not  my  will,  but  Thy  will : — the 
unseliish  spirit,  the  meek  bearing  of  an 
injury,  the  unostentatious  kindness,— 
these  are  some  of  the  "  fruits"  which 
your  Heavenly  Father  loves,  and  by 
which  He  is  glorified. 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  21 

Percliance  it  may  be  with  you  the 
season  of  trial,  the  chamber  of  pro- 
tracted sickness,  the  time  of  desolating 
bereavement,  some  furnace  seven  times 
heated.  Herein,  too,  you  may  sweetly 
glorify  your  God.  Never  is  your 
Heavenly  Father  more  glorified  by  His 
children  on  earth,  than  when,  in  the 
midst  of  these  furnace-fires,  He  listens 
to  nothing  but  the  gentle  breathings  of 
confiding  faith  and  love — *'  Let  Him 
do  what  seemeth  good  unto  Him." 
Yes,  you  can  there  glorify  Him  in  a 
way  which  angels  cannot  do  in  a  world 
where  no  trial  is.  They  can  glorify 
God  only  with  the  crown;  you  can 
glorify  Him  with  the  cross  and  the  pros- 
pect of  the  crown  together!  Ah,  if 
He  be  dealing  severely  with  you — if  He, 
as  tlie  Great  Husbandman,  be  pruning 
His  vines,  lopping  their  boughs,  strip- 
ping off  their  luxuriant  branches  and 
"beautiful  rods!" — remember  the  end! 
— "  He  purgeth  it,  that  it   may  bring 


22  THE  WORDS  OF   JESUS. 

forth  more  fruit,"  and  ^^  Herein  is  my 
Father  glorified !" 

Be  it  yours  to  lie  passi\e  in  His 
hands,  saying  in  unmurmuring  resig- 
nation. Father,  glorify  Thy  name !  Glo- 
rify Thyself,  whether  by  gi^^ing  or  tak- 
ing, filling  my  cup  or  "  emptying  me 
from  vessel  to  vessel !"  Let  me  know 
no  will  but  Thine.  Angels  possess  no 
higher  honour  and  privilege  than  glo- 
rifying the  God  before  whom  they  cast 
their  crowns.  How  blessed  to  be  able 
thus  to  claim  brotherhood  with  the 
spirits  in  the  upper  sanctuary!  nay 
more,  to  be  associated  with  the  Saviour 
Himself  in  the  theme  of  His  own  ex- 
alted joy,  when  he  said,  "  I  have  glorv' 
Red  Thee  on  earth  I" 


"TnHSB    THINGS    HAVB    I    SPOKEN    TTNTO    TOTT,   THAT   MT 

JOY    MIGHT    EKMAIN    IN    TOTT,  AND    THAT    rOITB 

JOT    MIGHT   BE   TULL.'* 


THE   WORDS   OF  JEStJS.  23 

6th  Eveninq. 

*'Eeinember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"- 

*'  The  vory  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  numbered." — 
Matt.  X.  30. 

>:.      V    V      What  a  "word"  is  this  1 

mmim,  ^^^^  numbering  of  your 
hairs,  is  known  to  God  !  Nothing  can 
happen  by  accident  or  chance.  Noth- 
ing can  elude  His  inspection.  The 
fall  of  the  forest  leaf — the  fluttering  of 
the  insect — the  waving  of  the  angel's 
wing — the  annihilation  of  a  world, — 
all  are  equally  noted  by  Him.  Man 
Bpeaks  of  great  things  and  small  things 
— God  knows  no  such  distinction. 

How  especially  comforting  to  think 
of  this  tender  solicitude  with  reference 
to  His  own  covenant  people — that  He 
metes  out  their  joys  and  their  sorrows  I 
Every  sweet,  every  bitter,  is  ordained 
by  Him.  Even  "  wearisome  nights'' 
are  ^^  appointed,^'    Not  a  pang  I  feel, 


24  THE   WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

not  a  tear  I  shed,  but  is  known  to  Him. 
What  are  called  "dark  dealings  "are 
the  ordinations  of  undeviating  faithful- 
ness. Man  may  err — his  ways  are  often 
crooked  ;  "  but  as  for  God,  His  way  is 
perfect !  "  He  puts  my  tears  into  His 
bottle.  Every  moment  the  everlasting 
arms  are  underneath  and  around  me. 
He  keeps  me  "  as  the  apple  of  His  eye." 
He  "  bears  "  me  "  as  a  man  beareth  his 
own  son! " 

Do  I  look  to  the  future?  Is  there 
much  of  uncertainty  and  mystery  hang- 
ing over  it?  It  may  be,  much  pre- 
monitory of  evil.  Trust  Him.  All  is 
marked  out  for  me.  Dangers  will  be 
averted ;  bewildering  mazes  will  shew 
themselves  to  be  interlaced  and  inter- 
weaved  with  mercy.  "  He  keepeth  the 
feet  of  His  saints."  A  hair  of  their 
head  will  not  be  touched.  He  leads 
sometimes  darkly,  sometimes  sorrow- 
fully ;  most  frequently  by  cross  and 
circuitous  ways  we  ourselves  would  not 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  25 

have  cliosen  ;  but  alivays  wisely,  always 
tenderly.  With  all  its  mazy  windings 
and  turnings,  its  rouglniess  and  rugged- 
ness,  the  believer's  is  not  only  a  right 
way,  but  the  right  way — the  best  which 
covenant  love  and  wisdom  could  select. 
"  Nothing,"  says  Jeremy  Taylor,  "  does 
so  establish  the  mind  amidst  the  rollings 
and  turbulence  of  present  things,  as 
both  a  look  above  them  and  a  look  be- 
yond them  ;  above  them,  to  the  steady 
and  good  hand  by  which  they  are  ruled ; 
and  beyond  them,  to  the  sweet  and 
beautiful  end  to  which,  by  that  hand, 
they  will  be  brought."  "  The  great 
Counsellor,"  says  Thomas  Brooks,  "  puts 
clouds  and  darkness  round  about  Him, 
bidding  us  follow  at  His  beck  through 
the  cloud,  promising  an  eternal  and 
uninterrupted  sunshine  on  the  otlier 
side."  On  that  "other  side"  we  shall 
see  how  every  apparent  rough  blast  has 
been  hastening  our  barks  nearer  the  de« 
sired  haven  I 


26  THE   WOBDS   OP  JEStJS. 

Well  may  1  commit  the  keeping  of 
m}'  soul  to  Jesus  in  well-doing,  as  unto 
a  faithful  Creator.  He  gave  Himself 
for  me.  This  transcendent  pledge  of 
love  is  the  guarantee  for  the  bestow- 
ment  of  every  other  needed  blessing. 
Oh,  blessed  thought !  my  sorrows  num- 
bered by  the  Man  of  Sorrows  ;  my  tears 
counted  by  Ilim  who  shed  first  His  tears 
and  then  His  blood  for  me.  He  will 
impose  no  needless  burden,  and  exact 
no  unnecessary  sacrifice.  There  was  no 
redundant  drop  in  the  cup  of  His  own 
sufferings  ;  neither  will  there  be  in  that 
of  His  people.  "  Though  He  slay  mo, 
yet  will  I  trust  in  Him." 

"  WHEREFORE  COMFORT  ONE  ANOTHER  imn 

THESE  WORDS." 


THE   WORDS  OP  JESUS.  27 

7th  Evexing, 

'liemember  the  words  of  the  lord  Sesns,  how 
He  said"— 

I  am  the  good  shepherd,  and  know  my  sheep,  and  am 
known  of  mine." — John  x.  14. 


€k§m^  '^^"^^  ^''''^  Shepherd"— 
^L    L    V      well    can    the    sheep    who 

truthfulness  and  faithfulness  of  this  en- 
dearing name  and  word.  Where  would 
they  have  been  through  eternity,  had 
He  not  left  his  throne  of  light  and 
glory,  travelling  down  to  this  dark  val- 
ley of  the  curse,  and  giving  his  life  a 
ransom  for  many  ?  Think  of  His  love 
to  each  separate  member  of  the  flock^ 
wandering  over  pathless  wilds  with 
unwearied  patience  and  unquenchable 
ardour,  ceasing  not  the  pursuit  until  He 
finds  it.  Think  of  His  love  noiv—''  I 
AM  the  Good  Shepherd."  Still  that  ten- 
der eye  of  watchfulness  following  the 
guilty  wanderers—  the  glories  of  heaven 


28  THE    WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

and  the  songs  of  angels  unable  to  dim 
or  alter  his  affection  ; — the  music  of 
the  words,  at  this  moment  coming  as 
sweetly  from  His  lips  as  when  first  He 
uttered  them  —  "I  know  my  sheep." 
Every  individual  believer — the  weakest, 
the  weariest,  the  faintest  —  claims  His 
attention.  His  loving  eye  follows  me 
day  by  day  out  to  the  wilderness — 
marks  out  my  pasture,  studies  my  wants, 
and  trials,  and  sorrows,  and  perplexities 
— every  steep  ascent,  every  brook,  every 
winding  path,  every  thorny  thicket, 
"  He  goeth  before  them."  It  is  not 
rough  driving,  but  gentle  guiding.  He 
does  not  take  them  over  an  unknown 
road  ;  He  himself  has  trodden  it  before. 
He  hath  drunk  of  every  "  brook  by  the 
way  ;"  He  himself  hath  "  suffered  being 
tempted  ;"  He  is  "  able  to  succour 
them  that  are  tempted."  He  seems  to 
say,  "  Fear  not ;  I  cannot  lead  you 
wrong  ;  follow  me  in  the  bleak  waste, 
the  blackened  wilderness,  as  well  as  by 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  29 

..ne  green  pastures  and  the  still  waters. 
Do  3^011  ask  why  I  have  left  the  sunny 
side  of  the  valley — carpeted  with  flow- 
ers, and  bathed  in  sunshine — leading 
you  to  some  high  mountain  apart,  some 
cheerless  spot  of  sorrow  ?  Trust  me,  1 
will  lead  you  by  paths  you  have  not 
known,  but  they  are  all  known  to  me, 
and  selected  by  me — ' follow  thou  me.'" 

"  And  am  known  of  mine ! "  Reader ! 
canst  thou  subscribe  to  these  closing 
words  of  this  gracious  utterance  ?  Dost 
thou  "  know"  Him  in  all  the  glories  of 
His  person,  in  all  the  completeness  of 
His  finished  work,  in  all  the  tenderness 
and  unutterable  love  of  His  every  deal- 
ing towards  thee? 

It  has  been  remarked  by  Palestine 
travellers,  that  not  only  do  the  sheep 
there  follow  the  guiding  shepherd,  but 
even  while  cropping  the  herbage  as 
they  go  along,  they  look  wistfully  up 
to  see  that  they  are  near  him.  Is  this 
thine   attitude  —  lookinj  unto  Jesus  "  ? 


30  THE   VfORDS   OF   JESUS. 

"  In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him, 
and  He  will  direct  thy  paths."  Leave 
the  future  to  His  providing.  "  The 
Lord  is  my  Shepherd ;  I  shall  not  want.'' 
I  shall  not  want! — it  has  been  beauti- 
fully called  "  the  bleating  of  Messiah's 
sheep."  Take  it  as  thy  watchword 
during  thy  wilderness  wanderings,  till 
grace  be  perfected  in  glory.  Let  this 
be  the  record  of  thy  simple  faith  and 
unwavering  trust,  "  These  are  they  who 
foUoio,  whithersoever  He  sees  meet  to 
guide  them." 

*'  TUB  SHEEP  FOLLO-W  HIM,  FOK  THEY  KNOW  HIS  V0IC30.'* 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS. 


8th  Ex'enino. 


"Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  And  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you 
another  Comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with  5^ou  for  ever." — 
John  XIV.  16. 

vL  ni  '\*  When  one  beloved  eartUy 
m  Ihjmg  friend  is  taken  away,  how 

tfnmfnrttr.  the  heart  is  drawn  out  to- 
wards  those  that  remain!  Jesus  was 
now  about  to  leave  His  sorrowing  disci- 
ples. He  directs  them  to  one  whose 
presence  would  fill  up  the  vast  blank 
His  own  absence  was  to  make.  His 
name  was,  The  Comforter;  His  mission 
was,  "  to  abide  with  them  for  ever." 
Accordingly,  no  sooner  had  the  gates 
of  heaven  closed  on  their  ascended 
Lord,  than,  in  fulfilment  of  His  own 
gracious  promise,  the  bereaved  and  or- 
phaned Church  was  baptized  with  Pen- 
tecostal fire.  "  When  I  depart,  I  will 
send  Him  unto  you." 

Reader!  do  you  realize  your  privilege 


32  THE   WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

— living  under  the  dispensation  of  the 
Spirit?  Is  it  your  daily  prayer  that 
JIq  may  come  down  in  all  the  plenitude 
of  His  heavenly  graces  on  your  soul, 
even  "  as  rain  upon  the  mown  grass  and 
showers  that  water  the  earth  ?"  You 
cannot  live  without  Him  :  there  can  lie 
not  one  heavenly  aspiration,  not  one 
breathing  of  love,  not  one  upward 
glance  of  faith,  without  His  gracious 
influences.  Apart  from  Him,  there  is 
no  preciousness  in  the  Word,  no.  bless- 
ing in  ordinances,  no  permanent  sancti- 
fying results  in  affliction.  As  the  angel 
directed  Hagar  to  the  hidden  spring, 
this  blessed  agent,  true  to  His  name  and 
office,  directs  His  people  to  the  waters 
of  comfort,  giving  new  glory  to  the 
promises,  investing  the  Saviour's  charac- 
ter and  work  with  new  loveliness  and 
beauty. 

How  prer  ious  is  the  title  which  this 
"Word  of  Jesus"  gives  Him — The 
Comforter  !    What  a  word  for  a  sor* 


THE   WORDS    OF   JESUS.  33 

rowing  world!  The  Church  militant 
has  its  tent  pitched  in  a  "valley  of 
tearsJ'  The  name  of  the  divine  visi- 
tant who  comes  to  her  and  ministers  to 
her  wants,  is — Comforter.  Wide  is  the 
family  of  the  afflicted,  but  He  has  a 
healing  balm  for  all— the  weak,  the 
tempted,  the  sick,  the  sorrowing,  the 
bereaved,  the  dying!  How  different 
from  other  "  sons  of  consolation  !"  Hu- 
man friends  —  a  look  may  alienate  ; 
adversity  may  estrange;  death  must 
separate !  The  "  Word  of  Jesus"  speaks 
of  One  whose  attribute  and  preroga- 
tive is  to  '•  abide  with  for  ever  ;"  su- 
perior to  all  vicissitudes  —  surviving 
death  itself! 

And  surely  if  anything  else  can  endear 
His  mission  of  love  to  His  Church,  it  is 
that  He  comes  direct  from  God,  as  the 
fruit  and  gift  of  Jesus^  intercession — "J 
will  pray  the  Father."  This  holy  dove 
of  peace  and  comfort  is  let  out  by  the 
hand  of  Jesus  from  the  ark  of  covenant 
3 


34  THE  WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

mercy  witliin  the  veil !  Nor  is  the  gift 
more  glorious  than  it  is  free.  Does  the 
word — the  look,  of  a  suffering  child 
get  the  eye  and  the  heart  of  an  eartlily 
father  ?  "  If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know 
how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your  chil- 
dren, how  much  more  shall  your  Father 
in  heaven  give  the  Holy  Spirit  unto 
them  that  ask  Him?''  It  is  He  who 
makes  these  "  words  of  Jesus  "  "  winged 
words." 


HE  SHALL  BRING  ALL  THINGS  TO  YOUR  REMBM- 
DOANCB,  WHATSOB\'ER  I  HAYIC  SAID 
UKTO  YOU." 


TT?E  WORDS   OP   JESUS.  35 


9th  EvENLsa 

*  Jlemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 

He  said"— 

•  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee  :  go,  and  sin  no  more." — 

John  viii.  11. 

p,  .  How  much  more  tender 
I  ^l^[^D^^  is  Jesus  than  the  tender- 
33rruin.  ggt  Qf  earthly  friends  I 
The  apostles,  in  a  moment  of  irritation, 
would  have  called  down  fire  from 
heaven  on  obstinate  sinners.  Their 
Master  rebuked  the  unkind  suggestion. 
Peter,  the  trusted  but  treacherous  dis- 
ciple, expected  nothing  but  harsh  and 
merited  reproof  for  faithlessness.  He 
who  knew  well  how  that  heart  would 
be  bowed  with  penitential  sorrow,  sends 
first  the  kindest  of  messages,  and  then 
the  gentlest  of  rebukes,  "  Lovest  thou 
me  ?  "  The  watchmen  in  the  Canticles 
smote  the  bride,  tore  off  her  veil,  and 
loaded  her  with  reproaches.  When  she 
found  her  lost  Lord,  there  was  not  one 


36  THE  WORDS   OF   JEStJS. 

word  of  upbraiding !  "So  slow  is  He 
to  anger,"  says  an  illustrious  believer, 
"  so  ready  to  forgive,  that  when  His 
prophets  lost  all  patience  with  the  peo- 
ple so  as  to  make  intercession  against 
them,  yet  even  then  could  He  not  be 
got  to  cast  off  this  people  whom  He 
foreknew,  for  His  great  name's  sake." 

The  guilty  sinner  to  whom  He  speaks 
this  comforting  "word,"  was  frowned 
upon  by  her  accusers.  But,  if  others 
spurned  her  from  their  presence,  '^Neither 
do  I  condemn  ihee.^^  Well  it  is  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  this  blessed  Saviour- 
God,  for  great  are  His  mercies. 

Are  we  to  infer  from  this  that  He 
winks  at  sin  ?  Far  from  it.  His  blood, 
His  work — Bethlehem,  and  Calvary,  re- 
fute the  thought!  Ere  the  guilt  even 
of  one  solitary  soul  could  be  washed 
out,  He  had  to  descend  from  His  ever- 
lasting throne  to  agonise  on  the  accurs- 
ed tree.  But  this  "  word  of  Jesus  "  is  a 
word  of  tender  encouragement  to  every 


THE   WORDS    OF   JESUS.  37 

sincere,  broken-hearted  penitent,  that 
crimson  sins,  and  scarlet  sins,  are  no 
barriers  to  a  free,  full,  everlasting  for- 
giveness. The  Israelite  of  old,  gasping 
in  his  agony  in  the  sands  of  the  wilder- 
ness, had  but  to  '^  look  and  Ziye;''and 
still  does  He  say,  "  Look  unto  me,  and 
be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth." 
Upreared  by  the  side  of  His  own  cross 
there  was  a  monumental  column  for  all 
Time,  only  second  to  itself  in  wonder. 
Over  the  head  of  the  dying  felon  is  the 
superscription  written  for  despairing 
guilt  and  trembling  penitence,  "  This 
is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all 
acceptation,  that  Jesus  Christ  came  into 
the  world  to  save  sinners."  "  He  never 
yet,"  says  Charnock,  "  put  out  a  dim 
candle  that  was  lighted  at  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness."  "  Whatever  our  guil- 
tiness be,"  says  Rutherford,  "  yet  when 
it  falleth  into  the  sea  of  God's  mercy 
it  is  but  like  a  drop  of  blood  fallen  into 
the  great  ocean." 


38  THE   WORDS    OF   JESUS. 

Reader  !  you  may  be  tlie  chief  of  sin- 
ners, or  it  may  be  the  chief  of  back- 
sliders ;  your  soul  may  have  started 
aside  like  a  broken  bow.  As  the  bank- 
rupt is  afraid  to  look  into  his  books, 
you  may  be  afraid  to  look  into  your 
own  heart.  You  are  hovering  on  the 
verge  of  despair.  Conscience,  and  the 
memory  of  unnumbered  sins,  is  uttering 
the  desponding  verdict,  "  I  condemn 
thee."  Jesus  has  a  kinder  word — a 
more  cheering  declaration  —  "  /  con- 
demn thee  not:  go  and  sin  no  more ! " 

"  Airo   AU    WONDEllED  AT  THE  ORACTOUS  WORDS    THAT 

orr  OF  h:3  mouth." 


THE   WORDS   OP  JESUS.  39 


10th  EvfiKiKa. 


"Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  Whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother,  and  my  sister,  and  moth- 
er."—Mark  iii.  35. 

vL    AVY    V  As  if  no  solitary  earth- 

«bf?«™iy  type  ^ere  enough  to 

Jesus,  He  assembles  into  one  verse  a 
group  of  the  tenderest  earthly  relation- 
ships. Human  affection  has  to  focus 
its  loveliest  hues,  but  all  is  too  little  to 
afford  an  exponent  of  the  depth  and 
intensity  of  His.  "  As  one  whom  his 
mother  comforteth  ;"  "  my  sister,  my 
spouse.^^  He  is  "  /S'ow,"  *'  BrotJier,^^ 
'•  Friend  "  —  all  in  one  ;  "  cleaving 
closer  than  any  brother.'' 

And  can  we  wonder  at  such  lan- 
guage ?  Is  it  merely  figurative,  expres- 
sive of  more  than  the  reality? — He 
gave  Himself  for  us  ;  after  that  pledge 
of  His  affeotion  we  must  cease  to  mar- 


4:0  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

vel  at  any  expression  of  the  inteiest  He 
feels  in  us.  Anything  He  can  say  or  do 
is  infinitely  less  than  what  He  lias  done. 

Believer !  art  thou  solitary  and  deso- 
late ?  Has  bereavement  severed  earth- 
ly ties?  Has  the  grave  made  forced 
estrangements, — sundered  the  closest 
links  of  earthly  affection?  In  Jesus 
thou  hast  filial  and  fraternal  love  com- 
bined ;  He  is  the  Friend  of  friends, 
whose  presence  and  fellowship  compen- 
sates for  all  losses,  and  supplies  all 
blanks ;  "  He  setteth  the  solitary  in 
families."  If  thou  art  orphaned,  friend- 
less, comfortless  here,  remember  there 
is  in  the  Elder  Brother  on  the  Throne 
a  love  deep  as  \!hQ  unfathomed  ocean, 
boundless  as  Eternity ! 

And  who  are  those  who  can  claim 
the  blessedness  spoken  of  under  this 
wondrous  imagery  ?  On  whom  does 
He  lavish  this  unutterable  affection  ? 
No  outward  profession  will  purchase  it. 
No  church,  no  priest,  no  ordinances,  no 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  41 

denominational  distinctions.      It  is  on 
those  who  are  possessed  of  holy  cJiarac- 
ters.     "  He  that  doeth  the  will  of  my 
leather  which  is  in  heaven  !"    He  who 
reflects  the  mind  of  Jesus  ;  imbibes  His 
Spirit ;  takes  His  Word  as  the  regula- 
tor of  his  daily  walk,  and  makes  His 
glory  the  great  end  of  his  being  ;  he 
who  lives  to  God,  and  luitli  God,  and 
for    God ;    the  humble,  lowly.  Christ- 
like, Heaven-seeking  Christian  ; — he  it 
is  who  can  claim  as  his  own  this  won- 
drous heritage  of  love !     If  it  be  a  wor- 
thy object  of  ambition  to  be  loved  by 
the  good  and  the  great  on  earth,  what 
must  it  be  to  have  an  eye  of  love  ever 
beaming  upon  us  from  the  Throne,  in 
comparison  of  which  the  attachment  here 
of  brother,  sister,  kinsman,  friend — all 
combined — pales  like  the  stars  before 
the  rising  sun !     Though  we  are  often 
ashamed  to  call  Him  "  Brother,"  "  He  is 
not  ashamed  to  call  us  brethren.'^     He 
looks  down  en  poor  worms,  and  says, 


42  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

"  The  same  is  my  motlier,  and  sister,  and 
brotlier !"  "  I  will  write  upon  them," 
He  says  in  another  place,  "my  new 
name."  Just  as  we  write  our  name  on 
a  book  to  tell  that  it  belongs  to  us  ;  so 
Jesus  would  write  His  own  name  on  us^ 
tlie  wondrous  volumes  of  His  grace,  that 
they  may  be  read  and  pondered  by  prin- 
cipalities and  powers. 

Have  we  "  known  and  believed  this 
love  of  God  "  ?  Ah,  how  poor  has  been 
the  requital !  Who  cannot  subscribe 
to  the  words  of  one,  whose  name  was  in 
all  the  churches, — "  Thy  love  has  been 
as  a  shower  ;  the  return  but  a  dew-drop., 
and  that  dew-drop  stained  with  sin." 

"IP  A  MAU  LOVB  ire,  HE  WILL  KKCP 

MY  WOEDS;  and  my  father  will  love  him  aitd 

WB  WILT.   COME    UNTO    UIM,    AND   MAKE   OTTS 
AI50DF.  WITH    HIM." 


THE  WORDS   OF  JESUS.  43 


llxH  EvE?imo. 

**Bemember  the  ;Krords  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"- 

**  I  will  uot  leave  you  comfortless  :  I  will  como  to  you." 
— John  xiv.  18. 

^L  c^  f  ♦  V  V  Does  the  Christian's 
€!lB  forfriBntoi  p,th  lie  all  the  way 
(DrppanB.  through  Beulah?  Nay, 
he  is  forewarned  it  is  to  be  one  of  "  much 
tribulation."  He  has  his  Marahs  as  well 
as  his  Elims — his  valleys  of  Baca  as 
well  as  his  grapes  of  Eshcol.  Often  is 
he  left  unbefriended  to  bear  the  brunt 
of  the  storm — his  gourds  fading  when 
most  needed — his  sun  going  down  while 
it  is  yet  day — his  happy  home  and 
happy  heart  darkened  in  a  moment 
with  sorrows  with  which  a  stranger 
(with  which  often  a  brother)  cannot 
intermeddle.  There  is  One  Brother 
"born  for  adversity"  who  can.  How 
often  has  that  voice  broken  with  its 
silvery  accents  the  muffed  stillness  of 


44  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

the  sick-chamber  or  death-chamber ! 
" '/  will  not  leave  you  comfortless  ;'  the 
world  may,  friends  may,  the  desolations 
of  bereavement  and  death  may ;  but  1 
ivlll  not ;  you  will  be  alone,  yet  not 
alone,  for  I  your  Saviour  and  your  God 
will  be  with  you  !" 

Jesus  seems  to  have  an  especial  love 
and  affection  for  His  orphaned  and 
comfortless  people.  A  father  loves  his 
sick  and  sorrowing  child  most ;  of  all 
his  household,  he  occupies  most  of  his 
thoughts.  Christ  seems  to  delight  to 
lavish  His  deepest  sympathy  on  "  him 
that  hath  no  helper."  It  is  in  the  hour 
of  sorrow  His  people  have  found  Him 
most  precious  ;  it  is  in  "  the  wilderness  " 
He  speaks  most  "  comfortably  unto 
them  ;"  He  gives  them  "  their  vineyards 
from  thence :"  in  the  places  they  least 
expected,  wells  of  heavenly  consolation 
break  forth  at  their  feet.  As  Jonathan 
of  old,  when  faint  and  weary,  had  his 
strength  revived  by  the  honey  he  found 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  45 

dropping  in  the  tangled  thicket ;  so  the 
faint  and  woe-worn  children  of  God 
find  "  honey  in  the  wood  " — everlasting 
consolation  dropping  from  the  tree 
of  life,  in  the  midst  of  the  thorniest 
tliickets  of  affliction. 

Comfortless  ones,  be  comforted ! 
Jesus  often  makes  you  ^portionless  here, 
to  drive  you  to  Himself,  the  everlasting 
portion.  He  often  dries  every  rill  and 
fountain  of  earthly  bliss,  that  He  may 
lead  you  to  say,  "All  my  springs  are 
in  thee."  "  He  seems  intent,"  says 
one  who  could  speak  from  experience, 
"  to  fill  up  every  gap  love  has  been 
forced  to  make  ;  one  of  his  errands  from 
heaven  was  to  bind  up  the  broken- 
hearted." How  beautifully  in  one 
amazing  verse  does  He  conjoin  the 
depth  and  tenderness  of  His  comfort 
with  the  certainty  of  it, — "As  one  whom 
his  mother  comforteth,  so  will  I  comfort 
yoti,  and  ye  shall  be  comforted  ! " 

Ah,  how  many  would  not  have  their 


46  THE   WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

wilderuess-state  altered,  with  all  its 
trials,  and  gloom,  and  sorrow,  just  that 
they  might  enjoy  the  unutterable  sym- 
pathy and  love  of  this  Comforter  of  the 
comfortless,  one  ray  of  whose  approving 
smile  can  dispel  the  deepest  earthly 
gloom!  As  the  clustering  constella- 
tions shine  with  intensest  lustre  in  the 
midnight  sky,  so  these  "  words  of 
Jesus  "  come  out  like  ministering  an- 
gels in  the  deep  dark  night  of  earthly 
sorrow.  We  may  see  no  beauty  in 
them  when  the  world  is  sunny  and 
bright ;  but  He  has  laid  them  up  in 
store  for  us  for  the  dark  and  cloudy 
day. 


THmCS   UAVE  I  TOLD  YOU,  THAT  WHEN  TIIB  TIMB 
OOUSTH,    TB    MAT    REME]!tIBER    THAT    I    TOLD 
TOU  OF  THEM." 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  47 


12rH  EvENiNa 


"Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation  :  but  be  of  good 
cheer  ;  I  have  overcome  the  world."— John  xvi.  33. 

^']|  (tt>  IWnrlW    -^-^^  ^^^^^^  ^  ^®  Sih^Siid  of  a 

mi  Wmn  ^^^1^  already  conquered? 
£m^ml  The  Almight/yictor,  with- 
in  view  of  His  crown,  turns  round  to 
His  faint  and  weary  soldiers,  and  bids 
them  take  courage.  They  are  not  fight- 
ing their  way  through  untried  enemies. 
The  God-Man  Mediator  ''hnoivs  their 
sorrows."  "He  was  in  all  points 
tempted.'^  "Both  He(z.  e.,  Christ)  who 
sanctifieth,  and  they  (His  people)  who 
are  sanctified,  are  all  of  one  (nature.)" 
As  the  great  Precursor,  he  heads  the 
pilgrim  band,  saying,  "  I  will  shew  you 
the  path  of  life."  The  way  to  heaven 
is  consecrated  by  His  footprints.  Every 
thorn  that  wounds  them^  has  wounded 
Him  before.      Every   cross    they   can 


48  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

bear,  He  has  borne  before.  Every 
tear  they  shed,  He  has  shed  before. 
There  is  one  respect,  indeed,  in  which 
the  identity  fails, — He  was  "  yet  with- 
out sin  ;"  but  this  recoil  of  His  holy 
nature  from  moral  evil,  gives  him  a 
deeper  and  intenser  sensibility  to- 
wards those  who  have  still  corruption 
within  responding  to  temptation  with- 
out. 

Header !  Are  you  ready  to  faint  un- 
der your  tribulations  ?  Is  it  a  seducing 
world — a  wandering,  wayward  heart? 
"  Consider  Him  that  endured  !"  Listen 
to  your  adorable  Eedeemer,  stooping 
from  His  throne,  and  saying,  "  I  have 
overcome  the  world."  He  came  forth 
unscathed  from  its  snares.  With  the 
same  heavenly  weapon  He  bids  you 
wield,  three  times  did  He  repel  the 
Tempter,  saying,  "  It  is  written." — Is  it 
some  crushing  trial  or  overwhelming 
grief?  He  is  ^^ acquainted  with  grief. ''^ 
He,  the  mighty  Vine,  knows  the  miDutest 


THE    WORDS    OF   JESUS.  49 

fibres  of  sorrow  in  the  branches  ;  when 
the  pruning-knife  touches  tliem  it  touches 
Him.  "  lie  has  gone,"  says  a  tried  suf- 
ferer, "  through  every  class  in  our  wil- 
derness-school." He  loves  to  bring  His 
people  into  untried  and  perplexing  pla- 
ces, that  they  may  seek  out  the  guiding 
pillar,  and  prize  its  radiance.  He  puts 
them  on  the  darkening  waves,  that  they 
may  follow  the  guiding  light  hung  out 
astern  from  the  only  bark  of  pure  and 
unsullied  Humanity  that  was  ever  proof 
against  the  storm. 

Be  assured  there  is  disguised  love  in 
all  He  does.  He  who  knows  us  infinitely 
better  than  we  know  ourselves,  often 
puts  a  thorn  in  our  nest  to  drive  us  to 
the  wing,  that  we  may  not  be  grovel- 
lers for  ever.  "  It  is,"  says  Evans, 
"  upon  tlie  smooth  ice  we  slip ;  the 
rough  path  is  safest  for  the  feet.''  The 
tearless  and  undimmed  eye  is  not  to 
be  coveted  here ;  thai  is  reserved  for 
heaven  I 

4 


50  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

Who  can  tell  what  miijffled  and  dis- 
guised "  needs  be"  there  may  lurk  un- 
der these  world- tribulations  ?  His  true 
spiritual  seed  are  often  planted  deep  in 
tlie  soil  ;  they  have  to  make  their  way 
through  a  load  of  sorrow  before  they 
reach  the  surface  ;  but  their  roots  are 
thereby  the  firmer  and  deeper  struck. 
Had  it  not  been  for  these  lowly  and 
needed  "  depths,"  they  might  have 
rushed  up  as  feeble  saplings,  and  suc- 
cumbed to  the  first  blast.  He  often 
leads  His  people  still,  as  He  led  them  of 
old,  to  "a  high  mountain  apart ;"  but  it 
is  to  a  high  mountain — above  the  luorld; 
and,  better  still.  He  who  Himself  hath 
overcome  the  world,  leadeth  them  there, 
and  speaketh  comfortably  unto  them. 

«<  T  HOPE  IN  THY  WORD." 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  51 


ISth  Evenlno. 

"  Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

Fear  not,  little  flock  ;  it  is  your  Father's  good  pleasure  to 
give  you  the  kingdom."— Luke  xii.  32. 

^|v.M  I  The  music  of  the  Shepherd's 
Pl^  I  voice  again!  Another  com- 
'^™^-  forting  "word,"  and  how 
tender  !  His  flock,  a  little  flock,  di  feeble 
flock,  d,  fearful  flock,  but  a  beloved  flock, 
loved  of  the  Father,  enjoying  His  "  good 
pleasure,"  and  soon  to  be  a  glorified 
flock,  safe  in  the  fold,  secure  within  the 
kingdom !  How  does  He  quiet  their 
fears  and  misgivings  ?  As  they  stand 
panting  on  the  bleak  mountain  side.  He 
points  His  crook  upwards  to  the  bright 
and  shining  gates  of  glory,  and  says,  "  It 
is  your  Father's  good  pleasure  to  give 
you  these  !  "  What  gentle  words !  what 
a  blessed  consummation !  Gracious 
Saviour,  Thy  gentleness  hath  made  mo 
great  I 


52  THE    WORDS    OP    JESUS. 

That  kingdom  is  the  believer's  by  ir- 
reversible and  inalienable  charter-right 
— "I  appoint  unto  you"  (by  covenant), 
Bays  Jesus  in  another  place,  "  a  king- 
dom, as  my  Father  hath  appointed  unto 
me."  It  is  as  sure  as  everlasting  love 
and  almighty  power  can  make  it.  Sa- 
tan, the  great  foe  of  the  kingdom,  may 
be  injecting  foul  misgivings,  and  doubts, 
and  fears  as  to  your  security  ;  but  he 
cannot  denude  you  of  your  purchased 
immunities.  He  must  first  pluck  the 
crown  from  the  Brow  upon  the  Throne, 
before  he  can  weaken  or  impair  this 
sure  word  of  promise.  If  "  it  pleased 
the  Lord"  to  hruise  the  Shepherd,  it  will 
surely  please  Him  to  make  happy  the  pur- 
chased flock.  If  He  "  smote"  His  "  Fel- 
low" when  the  sheep  were  scattered, 
surely  it  will  rejoice  Him,  for  the  Shep- 
herd's sake,  "  to  turn  His  hand  upon  the 
little  ones." 

Believers,  think  of  this  !     "  It  is  your 
Father's  good   pleasure."     The   Good 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  53 

Shepherd,  in  leading  you  across  the  in- 
tervening mountains,  shews  you  signals 
and  memorials  of  paternal  grace  stud- 
ding all  the  way.  He  may  "  lead  you 
about"  in  your  way  thither.  He  led  the 
children  of  Israel  of  old  out  of  Egypt 
to  their  promised  kingdom, — how  ?  By 
forty  years'  wilderness-discipline  and 
privations.  But  trust  Him  ;  dishonour 
Him  not  with  guilty  doubts  and  fears. 
Look  not  back  on  your  dark,  stumbling 
paths,  nor  within  on  your  fitful  and 
vacillating  heart ;  but  forwards  to  the 
land  that  is  far  off.  How  earnestly 
God  desires  your  salvation !  What 
a  heaping  together  of  similar  tender 
"  words "  with  that  which  is  here  ad- 
dressed to  us  !  The  Gospel  seems  like 
a  palace  full  of  opened  windows,  from 
each  of  which  He  issues  an  invitation, 
declaring  that  He  has  no  pleasure  in 
our  death — but  rather  that  we  would 
turn  and  live ! 

Let    the  melody  of   tlie   Shepherd's 


54  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

reed  fall  gently  on  your  ear, — "  It  is 
your  Father's  good  pleasure."  T  havo 
given  you,  He  seems  to  say,  the  best 
proof  that  it  is  mme.  In  order  to  pur- 
chase that  kingdom,  I  died  for  you  I 
But  it  is  also  His :  "  As  a  shepherd 
seeketh  out  his  flock  in  the  day  that  he 
is  among  his  sheep  that  are  scattered, 
so,"  says  God,  "will  I  seek  out  my 
sheep,  and  will  deliver  them  out  of  all 
places  where  they  have  been  scattered 
in  the  cloudy  and  dark  day."  Fear  not, 
then,  little  flock  !  thougli  yours  for  a 
while  should  be  the  bleak  mountain  and 
sterile  waste,  seeking  your  way  Zion- 
ward,  it  may  be  "  with  torn  fleeces  and 
bleeding  feet ;  "  for, 

"  n*  :b  not  the  will  of  your  father  which  is  in  heaven,  tiut 
ONE  of  these  Lrma  ones  should  perish.  " 


THE    WORDS   OP   JESUS.  55 


14th  Evbnino. 

"Remember  the  words  of  tlie  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

'•If  any  niao  thirst,  lot  him  come  unto  me,  and  drink." — 
John  vii.  37. 

VI    -t   !♦    -i  V  OxE  of  the  most  gracious 

^^"^'  ceeded  out  of  the  mouth  of 
God !"  The  time  it  was  uttered  was  an 
impressive  one  ;  it  was  on  "  the  last,  the 
great  day"  of  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles, 
when  a  denser  multitude  than  on  any 
of  the  seven  preceding  ones  were  assem- 
bled together.  The  golden  bowl,  ac- 
cording to  custom,  had  probably  just 
been  filled  with  the  waters  of  Siloam, 
and  was  being  carried  up  to  the  Temple 
amid  the  acclamations  of  the  crowd, 
when  the  Saviour  of  the  world  seized 
the  opportunity  of  speaking  to  them 
some  truths  of  momentous  import. 
Many,  doubtless,  were  the  "  words  of 
Jesus "'  uttered  on  the  previous  days,  but 


66  THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS. 

the  most  important  is  reserved  for  the 
last.  What,  then,  is  the  great  closing 
theme  on  which  He  rivets  the  attention 
of  this  vast  auditory,  and  which  He 
would  have  them  carry  away  to  their 
distant  homes?  It  is,  The  freeness  of 
His  own  great  Salvation — "  If  any  man 
thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me  and  drink  " 
Reader !  do  you  discredit  the  reality 
of  this  gracious  offer  ?  Are  your  legion 
sins  standing  as  a  barrier  between  you 
and  a  Saviour's  proffered  mercy  ?  Do 
you  feel  as  if  you  cannot  come  "just  as 
you  are  ;"  that  some  partial  cleansing, 
some  preparatory  reformation  must  take 
place  before  you  can  venture  to  the  liv- 
ing fountain?  Nay,  "J/  any  man^ 
What  is  freer  than  water  ? — The  poor- 
est beggar  may  drink  "  without  money" 
the  wayside  pool.  That  is  your  Lord's 
own  picture  of  His  own  glorious  salva- 
tion ;  you  are  invited  to  come, "  without 
one  plea,"  in  all  your  poverty  and  want, 
5^our  weakness  and  un worthiness.     Re- 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  57 

member  the  Redeeiner's  saying  to  the 
woman  of  Samaria.  She  was  the  fliicf 
of  sinners — profligate — hardened — de- 
graded ;  but  He  made  no  condition,  no 
qualification  ;  simjole  believing  was  all 
that  was  required, — "If  thou  knewest 
the  gift  of  God,"  thou  wouldst  have 
asked,  and  He  would  have  given  thee 
"  living  water." 

But  is  til  ere  not,  after  all,  o)ie  condi- 
tion mentioned  in  this  "word  of 
Jesus?" — "i/"  any  man  thirst  J'  You 
may  have  the  depressing  consciousness 
that  you  experience  no  such  ardent 
longings  after  holiness, — no  feeling  of 
your  affecting  need  of  the  Saviour. 
But  is  not  this  very  conviction  of  your 
want  an  indication  of  a  feeble  longing 
after  Christ?  If  you  are  saying,  "I 
have  nothing  to  draw  with,  and  the 
well  is  deep,"  He  who  makes  offer  of 
the  salvation-stream  will  Himself  fill 
your  empty  vessel, — "  He  satisfieth  the 
longing  soul  with  goodness." 


68  THE   WOKDS    OF   JESUS. 

"  Jesus  stood  and  criedJ^  It  is  the 
solitary  instance  recorded  of  Him  of 
whom  it  is  said,  "  He  shall  not  strive 
nor  cry,"  lifting  up  "  His  voice  in  the 
streets."  But  it  was  truth  of  surpass- 
ins:  interest  and  ma2:nitude  He  had  to 
proclaim.  It  was  a  declaration,  more- 
over, specially  dear  to  Him.  As  it 
formed  the  theme  of  this  ever-memor- 
ahle  sermon  during  His  public  ministry, 
so  when  He  was  sealing  up  the  inspired 
record  —the  last  utterances  of  His  voice 
on  earth,  till  that  voice  shall  be  heard 
again  on  the  throne,  contained  the  same 
life-giving  invitation, — "Let  him  that 
is  athirst  come,  and  whosoever  will,  let 
him  take  of  the  water  of  life  freely.*' 
Oh !  as  the  echoes  of  that  gracious  say- 
ing—this blast  of  the  silver  trumpet — 
are  still  sounding  to  the  ends  of  the 
world,  may  this  be  the  recorded  result, 

^'Afi  HE  SPAKE  THESE   WORDS    want  eeliuved 

ON     HIM," 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  59 


15th  Eve.vinq. 


Eemembsr  tho  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  My  yoke  is  easy,  and  my  burden  is  light." — Matt.  is.  30. 

^.i  q  r  I  Can  the  same  be  said  of 
(Ljie  JQIjtlli  g^t^j^^   Qj.   g-^  ^     ^j^i^  ^^ 

§rrnttllk.  gard  to  them,  how  faith- 
fully true  rather  is  the  converse — "  My 
yoke  is  heavy,  and  my  burden  is  griev' 
ous  /"  Christ's  service  is  a  happy  ser- 
vice, the  only  happy  one ;  and  even 
when  there  is  a  cross  to  carry,  or  a 
yoke  to  bear,  it  is  His  own  appoint- 
ment. "  My  yoke."  It  is  sent  by  no 
untried  friend.  Nay,  He  who  puts  it 
on  His  people,  bore  this  very  yoke 
Himself.  "  He  carried  our  sorrows." 
How  blessed  this  feeling  of  holy  servi- 
tude to  so  kind  a  Master !  not  like 
"  dumb,  driven  cattle,"  goaded  on,  but 
led,  and  led  often  most  tenderly  when 
the  yoke  and  the  burden  are  upon  us. 
The  great  apostle  rarely  speaks  of  him- 


60  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

self  under  any  other  title  but  one.  Tliat 
one  he  seems  to  make  his  boast.  He  had 
much  whereof  he  might  glory  ; — he  had 
been  the  instrument  in  saving  thousands 
— he  had  spoken  before  kings — he  liad 
been  in  CiBsar's  palace  and  Caesar's 
presence — he  had  been  caught  up  into 
tlie  third  heavens,  —but  in  all  his  letters 
this  is  his  joyful  prefix  and  superscrip- 
tion, "  The  Servant  (literally,  the  slave) 
of  Jesus  Christ !" 

Reader !  dost  thou  know  this  blessed 
servitude?  Canst  thou  say  with  a  joy- 
ful heart,  "  0  Lord,  truly  I  am  Thy 
servant"  ?  He  is  no  hard  taskmaster. 
Would  Satan  try  to  teach  thee  so  ? 
Let  this  be  the  refutation,  "  He  loved 
me,  and  gave  Himself  for  me^  True, 
the  yoke  is  the  appointed  discipline  he 
employs  in  training  His  children  for 
immortality.  But  be  comforted  !  "  It 
is  His  tender  hand  th^it  puts  it  on,  and 
Jceeps  it  on."  He  will  suit  the  yoke  to 
the  neck,  and   the   neck  to  the  yoke. 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  61 

He  will  suit  His  grace  to  your  trials. 
Nay,  He  will  bring  you  even  to  be  in 
love  with  these,  when  they  bring  along 
with  them  such  gracious  unfoldings  of 
His  own  faithfulness  and  mercy.  How 
Uis  people  need  thus  to  be  in  heaviness 
through  manifold  temptations,  to  keep 
them  meek  and  submissive  !  "  Jeshurun 
(like  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the  har- 
ness, fed  and  pampered  in  the  stall) 
waxed  fat,  and  kicked."  Never  is  there 
more  gracious  lov^e  than  when  God  takes 
His  own  means  to  curb  and  subjugate, 
to  humble  us,  and  to  prove  us- -bring- 
ing us  out  from  ourselves,  our  likings, 
our  confidences,  our  prosperity,  and 
putting  us  under  the  needed  yoke. 

And  who  has  ever  repented  of  that 
joyful  servitude  ?  Among  all  the  ten 
thousand  regrets  that  mingle  with  a 
dying  hour,  and  oft  bedew  with  bitter 
tears  a  dying  pillow,  who  ever  told  of 
regrets  and  repentance  here  ? 

Tried  believer  !  has   He  ever  failed 


62  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

thee  ?  Has  His  yoke  been  too  griev- 
ous ?  Have  thy  tears  been  unalleviated 
■ — thy  sorrows  unsolaced — thy  tempta- 
tions above  that  thou  wert  able  to  bear  ? 
Ah !  rather  canst  thou  not  testify,  "  The 
word  of  the  Lord  is  tried ;"  I  cast  my 
burden  upon  Him,  and  He  "  sustained 
me"?  How  have  seeming  difficul'ties 
melted  away  !  How  has  the  yoke  lost 
its  heaviness,  and  the  cross  its  bitterness, 
in  the  thought  of  who  thou  wert  bear- 
ing it  for  !  There  is  a  promised  rest  in 
the  very  carrying  of  the  yoke  ;  and  a 
better  rest  remains  for  the  weary  and 
toil-worn  when  the  appointed  work  is 
finished ;  for  thus  saith  "  that  same 
Jesus/' — 


TAKE    MT   YOKE   UPOX   YOU,  AND   LEAUN   OF   ME, 
SHAIX  FIND  REST  UNTO  YOUB  SOUL6." 


THE   \YORDS   OF   JESUS.  63 


I  Cm  EvExisa. 


"Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"As  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  so   have  I  loved  you."— 
John  XV.  9. 

VL      -fU  ^^^^     ^^     ^^^^    ^^^*    ^^^' 

€p  BBHSntB    drous  verse  in  the  Bible. 

BI  ilnUB.  Who  can  sound  the  un- 
imagined  depths  of  that  love  which 
dwelt  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father  from 
all  eternity  towards  His  Son  ? — and 
yet  here  is  the  Saviour's  own  exponent 
of  His  love  towards  His  people  ! 

There  is  no  subject  more  profoundly 
mysterious  than  those  mystic  intercom- 
munings  between  the  first  and  second 
persons  in  the  adorable  Trinity  before 
the  world  was.  Scripture  gives  us  only 
some  dim  and  shadovvy  revelations  re- 
garding them — distant  gleams  of  light, 
and  no  more.  Let  one  suffice.  "  Then 
I  was  by  Him,  as  one  brought  up  with 
Him,  and  I  was  daily  His  delight,  re- 
joicing always  before  Him." 


64  THE   WORDS    OF   JESUS. 

We  know  that  earthly  affection  19 
deepened  and  intensified  by  increased 
familiarity  with  its  object.  The  friend- 
ship of  yesterday  is  not  the  sacred,  hal- 
lowed tiling,  which  years  of  growing 
intercourse  have  matured.  If  we  may 
with  reverence  apply  this  test  to  the 
highest  type  of  holy  affection,  what 
must  have  been  that  interchange  of 
love  which  the  measureless  lapse  of 
Eternity  had  fostered — a  love,  more- 
over, not  fitful,  transient,  vacillating, 
subject  to  altered  tones  and  estranged 
looks — but  pure,  constant,  untainted, 
without  one  shadow  of  turning  !  And 
yet  listen  to  the  "  words  of  Jesus," 
As  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have 
I  loved  yoit !  It  would  have  been  in- 
finitely more  than  we  had  reason  to 
expect,  if  He  had  said,  "As  my  Father 
hath  loved  angels,  so  have  I  loved 
you."  But  the  love  borne  to  no  finite 
beings  is  an  appropriate  symbol.  Long 
before  the  birth  of  time  or  of  worlds, 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  05 

that  love  existed.  It  was  coeval  with 
Eternity  itself.  Hear  how  the  two 
themes  of  the  Saviour's  eternal  rejoic- 
ing— the  love  of  His  Father,  and  Hi3 
love  for  sinners — are  grouped  together  ; 
— "Rejoicing  always  before  Hbi,  and 
in  the  habitable  part  of  His  earth  !" 

To  complete  the  picture,  we  must 
take  in  a  counterpart  description  of  the 
Faiherh  love  to  us  ; — "  Therefore  doth 
my  Father  love  me,"  says  Jesus  in  an- 
other place,  "  because  I  lay  down  my 
life !"  God  had  an  all-sufficiency  in  His 
own  love — He  needed  not  the  taper-love 
of  creatures  to  add  to  His  glory  or  hap- 
piness ;  but  He  seems  to  say,  that  so 
intense  is  His  love  for  us,  that  He  loves 
even  His  beloved  Son  more  (if  infinite 
love  be  capable  of  increase),  because 
He  laid  down  His  life  for  the  guilty  I 
It  is  regarding  the  Redeemed  it  is  said, 
"  He  shall  rest  in  His  love — He  shall 
rejoice  over  ther)i  with  singing." 

In  the  assertion,  "  God  is  love,"  we 
6 


66  THE   WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

are  left  truly  with  no  mere  unproved 
averment  regarding  tlie  existence  of 
some  abstract  quality  in  the  divine 
nature,  "  Herein,"  says  an  apostle, 
"  perceive  we  the  love," — (it  is  added 
in  our  authorized  version,  "  of  God," 
but,  as  it  has  been  remarked,  "  Our 
translators  need  not  have  added  whose 
love,  for  there  is  but  one  such  specimen^') 
^-''because  He  laid  down  His  life  for 
us."  No  expression  of  love  can  be 
wondered  at  after  this.  Ah,  how  miser- 
able are  our  best  affections  compared 
with  His  !  "  Our  love  is  but  the  reflec- 
tion— cold  as  the  moon  ;  His  is  as  tlie 
Sun."  Shall  we  refuse  to  love  Him 
more  in  return,  who  hath  first  loved, 
and  80  loved  us? 

M  HXnm  MAN  SPAKE  USE  THIS  MAK  " 


THE   WORDS  OP  JESUS.  67 


"  Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  Only  believe."— Mark  v.  36. 

^,  n^  •  f  The  briefest  of  the  "words 
^F  -^'^y^^   of  Jesus,"  but  one  of  the 

UpnSpEU  most  comforting.  They  con- 
tain the  essence  and  epitome  of  all  sav- 
ing truth. 

Reader  I  is  Satan  assailing  thee  with 
tormenting  fears  ?  Is  the  thought  of 
thy  sins — the  guilty  past — coming  up 
in  terrible  memorial  before  thee,  al- 
most tempting  thee  to  give  way  to 
hopeless  despondency  ?  Fear  not !  A 
gentle  voice  whispers  in  thine  ear,— 
"  Only  helieveJ^  "  Thy  sins  are  great, 
but  My  grace  and  merits  are  greater. 
'Only  believe'  that  I  died  for  thee— 
til  at  I  am  living  for  thee  and  pleading 
for  thee,  and  that '  the  faithful  saying' 
is  as  '  faithful'  as  ever,  and  as  '  worthy 
of  all  acceptation'  as  ever." — Art  thou 


68  THE   WORDS    OF   JESUS. 

a  hacksliderf  Didst  thou  once  run 
well  ?  Has  thine  own  guilty  apostacy 
alienated  and  estranged  thee  from  that 
face  which  was  once  all  love,  and  that 
service  which  was  once  all  delight? 
Art  thou  breathing  in  broken-hearted 
sorrow  over  the  holy  memories  of  a  close 
walk  with  God — "  Oh  that  it  were  with 
me  as  in  months  past,  when  the  candle 
of  the  Lord  did  shine"?  ^^  Only  he- 
Ueve,^'  Take  this  thy  mournful  solil- 
oquy, and  convert  it  into  a  prayer. 
''  Only  believe"  the  word  of  Him  whose 
ways  are  not  as  man's  ways — "  Return, 
ye  backsliding  children,  and  I  will  heal 
your  backsliding." — Art  thou  beaten 
down  with  some  heavy  trials  have  thy 
fondest  schemes  been  blown  upon — thy 
fairest  blossoms  been  withered  in  the 
bud  ?  has  wave  after  wave  been  rolling 
in  upon  thee  ?  hath  the  Lord  forgotten 
to  be  gracious  ?  Hear  the  "  word  of 
Jesus"  resounding  amid  the  thickest 
midnight   of  gloom — penetrating   even 


THE   WORDS   OF  JESUS.  69 

through  the  vaults  of  the  dead — "  Be- 
lieve, only  helievey  There  is  an  in- 
finite reajon  for  the  trial — a  lurking 
thorn  that  required  removal,  a  gracious^ 
lesson  that  required  teaching.  The 
dreadful  severing  blow  was  dealt  in 
love.  God  will  be  glorified  in  it,  and 
your  own  soul  made  the  better  for  it. 
Patiently  wait  till  the  light  of  immor- 
tality be  reflected  on  a  receding  world. 
Here  you  must  take  His  dealings  on 
trust.  The  word  of  Jesus  to  you  now 
is,  "  Only  believe."  The  word  of  Jesus 
in  eternity  (every  inner  meaning  and 
undeveloped  purpose  being  unfolded), 
"  Said  I  not  unto  thee  that  if  thou 
wouldst  but  BELIEVE,  thou  shouldst 
SEE  the  glory  of  God  ?" — Are  you  fear- 
ful and  agitated  in  tJie  prospect  of  death  ? 
Through  fear  of  the  last  enemy,  have 
you  been  all  your  lifetime  subject  to 
bondage  ? — "  Only  believe."  "  As  thy 
day  is,  r>o  shall  thy  strength  be."  Dying 
grace  will  be  given  when  a  dying  hour 


70  THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS. 

comes.  In  the  dark  river  a  sustainiug 
arm  will  be  underneath  you,  deeper 
than  the  deepest  and  darkest  wave.  Ere 
you  know  it,  the  darkness  will  be  past, 
the  true  light  shining, — the  whisper 
of  faith  in  the  nether  valley,  "  Believe ! 
believe !"  exchanged  for  angel-voices 
exclaiming,  as  you  enter  the  portals  of 
glory,  "  No  longer  through  a  glass 
darkly,  but  now  face  to  face !" 

Yes  I  "  Jesus  Himself  had  no  higher 
remedy  for  sin,  for  sorrow,  and  for  suf- 
fering, than  those  two  words  convey. 
At  the  utmost  extremity  of  His  own 
distress,  and  of  His  disciples'  wretched- 
ness. He  could  only  say,  '  Let  not  j^our 
heart  be  troubled :  ye  believe  in  God, 
believe  also  in  me.'  *  Believe,  only  be- 
lieve.' " 

*'LOBI»,  I  BELTCVB,  HELP  THOU  MINE  UNHBUEF." 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  71 


18th  Etejunq 

**Bemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

^<  Be  of  good  cheer  :  it  is  I ;  be  not  afraid."— Mark  vi.  50. 

^L      (Kr     \    "  ^^  ^^  ^  "  ^^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^' 
PL  I    ^^^^    sion  has  it,  more  in  accord- 

^^^^'  ance  with  the  original),  "I 
A.M !  be  not  afraid !  "  Jesus  lives ! 
His  people  may  dispel  their  misgivings 
— Omnipotence  treads  the  waves !  To 
sense,  it  may  seem  at  times  to  be  other- 
wise ; — wayward  accident  and  chance 
may  appear  to  regulate  human  allot- 
ments ;  but  not  so  :  "  The  Lord's  voice 
is  upon  the  waters," — He  sits  at  the 
helm  guiding  the  tempest-tossed  bark, 
and  guiding  it  well. 

How  often  does  He  come  to  us  as  He 
did  to  the  disciples  in  that  midnight 
hour  when  all  seems  lost — "  in  the  fourth 
watch  of  the  night," — when  we  least 
looked  for  Him  ;  or  when,  like  the  ship- 
wrecked   apostle,   "  for    days   together 


72  THE    WORDS    OF   JESUS. 

neither  sun  nor  stars  appeared,  and  no 
small  tempest  lay  on  us  ;  when  all  hope 
that  we  should  be  saved  seemed  to  be 
taken  away," — how  often,  just  at  that 
moment,  is  the  "word  of  Jesus"  heard 
floating  over  the  billows  ! 

Believer  !  art  thou  in  trouble  ?  listen 
to  the  voice  in  the  storm,  "  Fear  not,  / 
AM."  That  voice,  like  Joseph's  of  old  to 
his  brethren,  may  seem  rough,  but  there 
are  gracious  undertones  of  love.  "  It 
is  I,"  he  seems  to  say ;  It  ivas  I,  that 
roused  the  storm  ;  It  is  I,  who,  when  it 
has  done  its  work,  will  calm  it,  and 
say,  "Peace,  be  still."  Every  wave 
rolls  at  My  bidding —  every  trial  is  My 
appointment — al]  have  some  gracious 
end ;  they  are  not  sent  to  dash  you 
against  the  sunken  rocks,  but  to  waft 
you  nearer  heaven.  Is  it  sickness?  1 
am  He  who  bare  your  sicknesses ;  the 
weary  wasted  frame,  and  the  nights  of 
languishing  were  sent  by  Me.  Is  it 
bereavement  f    I  am  "  the  Brother  "  born 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  73 

for  adversity — the  loved  and  lost  were 
plucked  away  by  Me.  Is  it  death  f  I 
AM  the  "  Abolisher  of  death,"  seated  by 
your  side  to  calm  the  waves  of  ebbing 
life  ;  it  is  /,  about  to  fetch  My  pilgrims 
home, — It  is  my  voice  that  speaks,  "  The 
Master  is  come,  and  calleth  for  thee." 

Reader  !  thou  wilt  have  reason  yet  to 
praise  thy  God  for  every  one  such 
storm !  This  is  the  history  of  every 
heavenly  voyager  :  "  So  He  bringeth 
them  to  their  desired  haven."  "  So  !  " 
That  word,  in  all  its  unknown  and  di- 
versified meaning,  is  in  His  hand.  lie 
suits  His  dealings  to  every  case.  "  So  /" 
With  some  it  is  through  quiet  seas  un- 
fretted  by  one  buffetting  wave.  "  So  !  " 
With  others  it  is  "  mounting  up  to  heav- 
en, and  going  down  again  to  the  deep.'' 
But  whatever  be  the  leading  and  the 
discipline,  here  is  the  grand  consumma- 
tion, "  /Sb  He  bringeth  them  unto  their 
desired  haven."  It  might  have  been 
with  thee  the  meanings  of  an   eternal 


74  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

night-blast — no  lull  or  pause  in  tlio 
storm ;  but  soon  the  darkness  will  be 
past,  and  the  hues  of  morn  tipping  the 
shores  of  glory  ! 

And  what,  then,  should  your  attitude 
be  ?  "  Looking  unto  Jesus  "  (literally, 
looking /rom,  unto)  ;  looking  away  from 
self,  and  sin,  and  human  props  and 
refuges  and  confidences,  and  fixing  the 
eye  of  unwavering  and  unflinching  faith 
on  a  reigning  Saviour.  Ah,  how  a  real 
quickening  sight  of  Christ  dispels  all 
guilty  fears !  The  Roman  keepers  of 
old  were  affrighted,  and  became  as  dead 
men.  The  lowly  Jewish  women  feared 
not ;  why  ?  "  /  hnoiu  that  ye  seek 
Jesus  !  "  Reader  !  let  thy  weary  spirit 
fold  itself  to  rest  under  the  composing 
"  word  "  of  a  gracious  Saviour,  saying— 


•WAIT  FOR  THE  tORD,   MY  SOUL  DOTH  WAIT,  AND  XS  HIS 
WORD  DO  I   HOPE." 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  75 


19th  EnsNiNG. 

*'  Eemsmber  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you  :  not  as 
the  world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you."— John  xiv.  27. 

.,  -.  .  How  we  treasure  the  last 
m   JUing    sayings  of  a  dying  parent ! 

^^W^'  How  specially  cherished 
and  memorable  are  his  last  looks  and 
last  words !  Here  are  the  last  words — 
the  parting  legacy — of  a  dying  Saviour. 
It  is  a  legacy  of  peace. 

What  peace  is  this  ?  It  is  His  own 
purchase — a  peace  arising  out  of  free 
forgiveness  through  His  precious  blood. 
It  is  sung  in  concert  with  "  Glory  to 
God  in  the  highest" — a  peace  made  as 
sure  to  us  as  eternal  power  and  infinite 
love  can  make  it !  It  is  peace  the  soul 
wants.  Existence  is  one  long-drawn 
sigh  after  repose.  That  is  nowhere 
else  to  be  found,  but  through  tlie  blood 
of  His  cross  !     ''  Being  justified  by  faith, 


76  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

we  have  peace  with  God."    "  He  giveth 
his  beloved  rest  !  " 

How  different  from  the  false  and 
counterfeit  peace  in  which  so  many  are 
content  to  live,  and  content  to  die  I 
The  world's  peace  is  all  well,  so  long  as 
prosperity  lasts — so  long  as  the  stream 
runs  smooth,  and  the  sky  is  clear  ;  but 
when  the  cataract  is  at  hand,  or  the 
storm  is  gathering,  where  is  it  ?  It  is 
gone!  There  is  no  calculating  on  its 
permanency.  Often  when  the  cup  is 
fullest,  there  is  the  trembling  apprehen- 
sion that  in  one  brief  moment  it  may  be 
dashed  to  the  ground.  The  soul  may 
be  saying  to  itself,  "  Peace,  peace  ;"  but, 
like  the  writing  on  the  sand,  it  may  be 
obliterated  by  the  first  wave  of  adver- 
sity. But,  "  Not  as  the  world  giveth !" 
The  peace  of  the  believer  is  deep — calm 
—  lasting  —  eiTerlasting.  The  world, 
with  all  its  blandishments,  cannot  give 
it.  The  world,  with  all  its  vicissitudes 
and  fluctuations,  cannot  take  it  away  ! 


THE    WORDS   OF   JESUS.  77 

It  is  brightest  in  the  hour  of  trial  ; 
it  liglits  up  the  final  valley-gloom. 
"  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold 
ihe  upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is 
peace."  Yes  !  how  often  is  the  believ- 
er's death-bed  like  the  deep  calm  repose 
of  a  summer-evening's  sky,  when  all 
nature  is  hushed  to  rest ;  the  departing 
soul,  like  the  vanishing  sun,  peacefully 
disappearing  only  to  shine  in  another 
and  brighter  hemisphere !  "  I  seem," 
said  Simeon  on  his  death-bed,  "  to  have 
nothing  to  do  but  to  wait :  there  is  now 
nothing  but^eace,  the  siveetest  peace." 

Believer!  do  you  know  this  peace 
which  passeth  understanding?  Is  it 
"keeping  (literally,  ^garrisoning  as  in 
a  citadel')  your  heart"?  Have  you 
learnt  the  blessedness  of  waking  up, 
morning  after  morning,  and  feeling,  "  I 
am  at  peace  with  my  God  ;"  of  behold- 
ing by  faith  the  true  Aaron — the  great 
High  Priest — coming  forth  from  "  the 
holiest  of  all"  to  "bless  His  people 


78  THE  WORDS   OF  JEStJS. 

with  peace  "  ?  Waves  of  trouble  may 
be  murmuring  around  you,  but  they 
cannot  touch  you ;  you  are  in  the 
rock-creyice  athwart  which  the  fiercest 
tornado  sweeps  by.  Oh !  leave  not  the 
making  up  of  your  peace  with  God  to 
a  dying  hour !  It  will  be  a  hard  thing 
to  smooth  the  death  pillow,  if  peace  be 
left  unsought  till  then.  Make  sure  of  it 
now.  He,  the  true  Melchisedec,  is  will- 
ing noio  to  come  forth  to  meet  you  with 
bread  and  wine — emblems  of  peaceful 
gospel  blessings.  All  the  "  words  of 
Jesus"  are  so  many  rills  contributing 
to  make  your  peace  flow  as  a  river  ; — 
"  These  things  have  I  spoken  unto  you, 
that  in  Me  ye  might  have  peace/' 

"  I    WILL    HEAR    WHAT    GOD    THE    LORD    WILL    SFBAK,    F0« 

BB  Wni,  SPEAK  PEACE  UNTO  HIS  PEOPLE  ^ND  TO 

HM  SAINTS." 


THE   WOUDS   OP   JESUS.  79 


20th  Eveninq. 


"Bemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth.— 
Matt,  xxviii.  18. 

„,     -J  What  an  empire  is  this  I 

«tlB|ElirmB  Heaven  and  eartli-the 
JnnmUUrt  church  militant  —  the 
Church  triumphant — angels  and  arch- 
angels— saints  and  seraphs.  At  His 
mandate  the  billows  were  hushed — de- 
mons crouched  in  terror — the  grave 
yielded  its  prey  !  "  Upon  His  head  are 
many  crowns."  He  is  made  "head  over 
all  tilings  to  His  Church."  Yes !  over 
aU  things,  from  the  minutest  to  the 
mightiest.  He  holds  the  stars  in  His 
right  hand  : — He  walks  in  the  midst  of 
the  seven  golden  candlesticks,  feeding 
every  candlestick  with  the  oil  of  his 
grace,  and  preserving  every  star  in  its 
spiritual  orbit.  The  Prince  of  Dark- 
ness has  "a  power,"  but.  Cod  be  praised. 


80  THE   WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

it  is  not  an  "  all  power  ;"  potent,  bntnot 
omnipotent.  Christ  holds  him  in  a 
chain.  He  hath  set  bounds  that  he  may 
not  pass  over.  "  Satan,"  we  read  in  the 
book  of  Job,  "  went  out  {Chaldee  para- 
phrase, *  with  a  licence')  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord."  He  was  not  al- 
lowed even  to  enter  the  herd  of  swine 
till  Christ  permitted  him.  He  only 
"  desired  "  to  have  Peter  that  he  might 
"  sift  him  ;"  there  was  a  mightier  coun- 
tervailing agency  at  hand :  '^  /  have 
prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not." 
Believer !  how  often  is  there  nothing 
but  this  grace  of  Jesus  between  thee 
and  everlasting  destruction  I  Satan's 
key  fitting  the  lock  in  thy  wayward 
heart ;  but  a  stronger  than  the  strong 
man  barring  him  out ; — the  power  of 
the  adversary  fanning  the  flame  ;  the 
Omnipotence  of  Jesus  quenching  it. 
Art  thou  even  now  feeling  the  strength 
of  thy  corruptions,  the  weakness  of  thy 
graces,  the  presence  of  some  outward  or 


THE    WORDS   OF   JESUS.  81 

inward  temptation?  Look  up  to  ITira 
wiio  has  promised  to  make  his  grace 
sufficient  for  thee  ;  "  all  power"  is  His 
prerogative ;  "  all-sufficiency  in  all 
things"  is  His  promise.  It  is  power, 
too,  in  conjunction  with  tenderness.  He 
who  sways  the  sceptre  of  universal  em- 
pire "  gently  leads"  His  weak,  and  wea- 
ry, and  burdened  ones ; — He  who  counts 
the  number  of  the  stars,  loves  to  count 
the  number  of  their  sorrows  ;  nothing 
too  great,  nothing  too  insignificant  for 
Him.  He  puts  every  tear  into  His  bot- 
tle !  He  paves  His  people's  pathway 
with  love ! 

Blessed  Jesus !  my  everlasting  inter- 
ests cannot  be  in  better  or  in  safer  keep- 
ing than  in  Thine.  I  can  exultingly 
rely  on  the  "  all-poiver^-  of  thy  Godhead. 
I  can  sweetly  rejoice  in  the  all-sympathy 
of  Thy  Manhood.  I  can  confidently 
repose  in  the  sure  wisdom  of  Thy  deal- 
ings. "Sometimes,"  says  one,  "we  ex- 
pect the  blessing  in  om-  way ;  He 
6 


82  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

ctooses  to  bestow  it  in  His.''^  But  His 
way  and  His  will  must  be  the  best.  In- 
finite love,  infinite  power,  infinite  wis- 
dom, are  surely  infallible  guarantees. 
His  purposes  nothing  can  alter.  His 
promises  never  fail.  His  word  never 
falls  to  the  ground. 


HEAVEN    AND   EARTH    SHALL   PASS    AWAY,    BOTf 
MY    WORDS   SHALL  NOT  PASS   AWAI." 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  83 

21sr  Evening. 

"Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  Ho  shall  glorify  rae  :  for  He  shall  receive  of  mine,  and 
shall  show  it  uuto  you." — John  xvi.  14. 

.,  _.  .  The  Holy  Spirit  glorifying 
MeiUinmt  j^g^g  ^^  ^^le  unfolding  of 

CPinriUBr.  ^is  person,  and  character, 
and  work,  to  His  people!  The  great 
ministering  agent  between  the  Church 
on  earth  and  its  glorified  Head  in  heav- 
en,— carrying  up  to  the  Intercessor  on 
the  throne,  the  ever-recurring  wants  and 
trials,  the  perplexities  and  sins,  of  be- 
lievers ;  and  receiving  out  of  His  inex- 
haustible treasury  of  love,^ — comfort  for 
their  sorrows — strength  for  their  weak- 
ness— sympathy  for  their  tears — fulness 
for  their  emptiness, — and  this  the  one 
sublime  end  and  object  of  His  gracious 
agency, — "//^  shall  glorify  Me^  "  He 
shall  not  speak  of  Himself,  but  whatso- 
ever He  shall  hear,  that  shall  He  speak." 


84  THE   WORDS   OF   JFSUS. 

My  words  of  sympathy — My  omnipo- 
tent pleadings — the  tender  messages 
sent  from  an  unchanged  Human  Heart, 
— all  these  shall  He  speak.  "  He  shall 
tell  you,"  says  an  old  divine,  comment- 
ing on  this  passage,  "  He  shall  tell  you 
nothing  but  stories  of  my  love."  (  Good- 
win.) He  will  have  an  ineffable  de- 
light in  magnifying  Me  in  the  affections 
of  My  Church  and  people,  and  endear- 
ing Me  to  their  hearts ;  and  He  is  all 
worthy  of  credence,  for  He  is  "the 
Spirit  of  truth." 

How  faithful  has  He  been  in  every  age 
to  this  His  great  ofi&ce  as  "  the  glorifier 
of  Jesus!"  See  the  first  manifestation 
of  His  power  in  the  Christian  Church 
at  the  day  of  Pentecost.  What  was 
the  grand  truth  which  forms  the  focus- 
point  of  interest  in  that  unparalleled 
scene,  and  which  brings  three  thousand 
stricken  penitents  to  their  knees?  li 
is  the  Spirit^ s  unfolding  of  Jesus — glori- 
fying Him  in  eyes  that  before  saw  in 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  85 

Him  no  beauty  !  Hear  the  key-note  of 
that  wondrous  sermon,  preached  "in 
demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  and  with 
power," — "  Him  hath  God  exalted  to  be 
a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  to  give  repent- 
ance to  His  people,  and  forgiveness  of 
sins." 

Ah !  it  is  still  the  same  peerless  truth 
which  the  Spirit  delights  to  unfold  to 
the  stricken  sinner,  and,  in  unfolding 
it,  to  make  it  mighty  to  the  pulling 
down  of  strongholds.  All  these  glori- 
ous inner  beauties  of  Christ's  work  and 
character  are  undiscerned  and  undis- 
cernible  by  the  natural  eye.  "  It  is  the 
Spirit  that  quickeneth."  "  No  man  can 
call  Jesus  Lord,  but  by  the  Holy  Ghost." 
He  is  the  great  Forerunner — a  mightier 
than  the  Baptist — proclaiming, "  Behold 
the  Lamb  of  God  !" 

Reader  I  any  bright  and  realizing 
view  you  have  had  of  the  Saviour's 
glory  and  excellency,  is  of  the  Spirit's 
imparting.     When  in  some  hour  of  sor- 


8Q  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

row  you  have  been  led  to  cleave  with 
pre-eminent  consolation  to  the  thought 
of  the  Redeemer's  exalted  sympathy— 
His  dying,  ever-living  love  ; — or  in  the 
liour  of  death,  when  you  feel  the  sus- 
taining power  of  His  exceeding  great 
and  precious  promises ;  what  is  this, 
but  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  fulfilment  of  His 
all-gracious  office,  taking  of  the  things 
of  Christ,  and  shewing  them  unto  you; 
thus  enabling  you  to  magnify  Him  in 
your  body,  whether  it  be  by  life  or 
death  ?  As  your  motto  should  ever  be, 
"None  BUT  Christ,^^  and  your  ever- 
increasing  aspiration, '^More  of  Christ" 
seek  to  bear  in  mind  who  it  is  that  is 
alone  qualified  to  impart  the  "excel- 
lency of  this  knowledge." 

"the  SITRIT  OF   TRUTH  WHICH  PROCEEDETH  FROX  THH 
FATHER,  HE  SHAU,  TESTIFY  OF  ME," 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  87 


22d  EvEXiNa 

"  Bemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said  "— 

"  your  sorrow  shall  be  turned  into  joy." — John  xvl.  20. 

>-L  c  r  I  Christ's  people  aro 
(EjieSatlfel  ^  sorrowing  people! 
(KrailsfnnnatinE.  chastisement  is  their 
badge — "  great  tribulation  "  is  their  ap- 
pointed discipline.  When  they  enter 
the  gates  of  glory,  He  is  represented 
as  wiping  away  tears  from  their  eyes. 
But,  weeping  ones,  be  comforted  I 
Your  Lord's  special  mission  to  earth — 
the  great  errand  He  came  from  heaven 
to  fulfil,  was  "  to  bind  up  the  broken- 
hearted." Your  trials  are  meted  out  by 
a,  tender  hand.  He  knows  you  too 
well — He  loves  you  too  well — to  make 
this  world  tearless  and  sorrowless! 
"  There  must  be  rain,  and  hail,  and 
storm,"  says  Rutherford,  "  in  the  saint's 
cloud."      Were    your    earthly    course 


88  THE   WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

strewed  with  flowers,  and  notliing  but 
sunbeams  played  around  your  dwelling, 
it  would  lead  you  to  forget  your  nomadic 
life, — that  you  are  but  a  sojourner  here. 
The  tent  must  at  times  be  struck,  pin 
by  pin  of  the  moveable  tabernacle 
taken  down,  to  enable  you  to  say  and 
to  feel  in  the  spirit  of  a  pilgrim,  "  I 
desire  a  better  country."  Meantime, 
while  sorrow  is  your  portion,  think  of 
Him  who  says,  "  I  know  your  sorrows." 
Angels  cannot  say  so — they  cannot 
sympathise  with  you,  for  trial  is  a 
strange  word  to  them.  But  there  is  a 
mightier  than  they  who  can.  All  He 
sends  you  and  appoints  you  is  in  love. 
There  is  a  provision  and  condition 
wrapt  up  in  the  bosom  of  every  affliction, 
"  if  need  he ;"  coming  from  His  hand, 
sorrows  and  riches  are  to  His  people 
convertible  terms.  If  tempted  to  mur- 
mur at  their  trials,  they  are  often  mur- 
muring at  disguised  mercies.  "  Why  do 
you  ask  me,"  said  Simeon,  on  his  death- 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  89 

bed,  "  what  I  like  ?    I  am  the  Lord's  pa- 
tient— I  cannot  but  like  everything J^ 

And  then — "your  sorrow  shall  be 
turned  into  joy."  "  The  morning  com- 
eth'' — that  bright  morning  when  the 
dew-drops  collected  during  earth's  night 
of  weeping  shall  sparkle  in  its  beams  ; 
when  in  one  blessed  moment  a  life- 
long experience  of  trial  will  be  effaced 
and  forgotten,  or  remembered  only  by 
contrast,  to  enhance  the  fulness  of  the 
joys  of  immortality.  What  a  revela- 
tion of  gladness!  The  map  of  time 
disclosed,  and  every  little  rill  of  sorrow, 
every  river  will  be  seen  to  have  been 
flowing  heavenwards,  —  every  rough 
blast  to  have  been  sending  the  bark 
nearer  the  haven!  In  that  joy,  God 
Himself  will  participate.  In  the  last 
"  words  of  Jesus  "  to  His  people  when 
they  are  standing  by  the  triumphal 
archway  of  Glory,  ready  to  enter  on 
their  thrones  and  crowns,  He  speaks 


90  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

of  their  joy  as  if  it  were  all  His  own. 
"  Enter  je  into  the  joy  of  your  Lord^ 

Reader !  may  this  joy  be  yours !  Sit 
loose  to  the  world's  joys.  Have  a  feel- 
ing of  chastened  gratitude  and  thank- 
fulness when  you  have  them  ;  but  be- 
ware of  resting  in  them,  or  investing 
them  with  a  permanency  they  cannot 
have.  Jesus  had  his  eye  on  heaven 
when  he  added 

"  i'OCE  J07   KO  MAH  TAKETH  mOM  YOU." 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  91 


23n  Ev-E.viN'Q 


"Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"- 

*» Father,  I  will  that  they  also  whom  Tlaou  hast  given  me, 
te  with  me  where  I  am  ;  that  they  may  behold  my  glory." 
—John  xvii.  34. 

;.-L     A     ♦    1    i  This  is  not  the  peti- 
W  ^^IHUipntBUt  tion  of  a  suppliant,  but 

queror.  There  was  only  one  request 
He  ever  made,  or  ever  can  make,  that 
was  refused ;  it  was  the  prayer  wrung 
forth  by  the  presence  and  power  of 
superhuman  anguish  :  "  Father,  if  it  he 
possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me  "I 
Had  that  prayer  been  answered,  never 
could  one  consolatory  "  word  of  Jesus  " 
have  been  ours.  'If  it  be  possible;^' 
— hut  for  that  gracious  parenthesis,  we 
must  have  been  lost  for  ever  !  In 
unmurmuring  submission,  the  bitter 
cup  teas  drained ;  all  the  dread  penal- 
ties of  the  law  were  borne,  the  atone- 
ment completed,  an  all-perfect  right- 
eousness wrought  out ;  and  now,  as  the 


92  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

Btipulated  reward  of  His  obedience  and 
sufferings,  the  Victor  claims  His  tro- 
phies. What  are  they?  Those  that 
were  given  Hira  of  the  Father  —  the 
countless  multitudes  redeemed  by  His 
blood.  These  He  ''wills"  to  be  with 
Him  "  where  He  is  " — the  spectators  of 
His  glory,  and  partakers  of  His  crown. 
Wondrous  word  and  will  of  a  dying 
testator !  His  last  prayer  on  earth  is 
an  importunate  pleading  for  their  glori- 
fication ;  His  parting  wish  is  to  meet 
them  in  heaven :  as  if  these  earthly 
jewels  were  needed  to  make  His  crown 
complete, — their  happiness  and  joy  the 
needful  complement  of  His  own ! 

Reader !  learn  from  this,  the  grand 
element  in  the  bliss  of  your  future  con- 
dition—  it  is  the  presence  of  Christ; 
"  with  Me  where  I  am."  It  matters 
comparatively  little  as  to  the  locality  of 
heaven.  "  We  shall  see  FTim  as  He  is," 
is  "  the  blessed  hope"  of  the  Christian- 
Heaven  would  be  no  heaven  without 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  93 

Jesus  ;  the  withdrawal  of  His  presence 
would  be  like  the  blotting  out  of  the 
sun  from  the  firmament ;  it  would  un- 
crovYu  every  seraph,  and  unstring  every 
liarp.  But,  blessed  thought !  it  is  His 
own  stipulation  in  His  testamentary 
prayer,  that  Eternity  is  to  be  spent  in 
union  and  communion  with  Himself, 
gazing  on  the  unfathomed  mysteries  of 
His  love,  becoming  more  assimilated  to 
His  glorious  image,  and  drinking  deep- 
er from  the  ocean  of  His  own  joy. 

If  anything  can  enhance  the  magni- 
tude of  this  promised  bliss,  it  is  the 
concluding  words  of  the  verse,  in  which 
He  grounds  His  plea  for  its  bestow- 
ment :  ^^  I  tuill — that  they  behold  my 
glory  ;  " — why  ?  "  For  Thou  lovest 
(not  them,  but)  Me  before  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world !  "  It  is  equivalent  to 
saying,  "If  Thou  wouldst  give  Me  a 
continued  proof  of  Thine  everlasting 
love  and  favour  to  Myself,  it  is  by  lov- 
ing and  exalting  My  redeemed  people. 


94  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

In  loving  them  and  glorifying  them, 
Thou  art  loving  and  glorifying  Me  :  so 
endearingly  are  their  interests  and  my 
own  bound  up  together  !  " 

Believer  !  think  of  that  all-prevailing 
voice,  at  this  moment  pleading  for  thee 
within  the  veil ! — that  omnipotent  "  Fa- 
ther^ I  ivill,^^  securing  every  needed 
boon !  There  is  given,  so  to  speak,  a 
blank  cJieque  by  which  He  and  His 
people  may  draw  indefinite  supplies  out 
of  the  exhaustless  treasury  of  the  Fa- 
ther's grace  and  love.  God  Himself 
endorses  it  with  the  words,  "  Son,  Thou 
art  «ver  with  me,  and  all  that  I  have  is 
Thine."  How  it  would  reconcile  us  to 
Earth's  bitterest  sorrows,  and  hallow 
Earth's  holiest  joys,  if  we  saw  them 
thus  hanging  on  the  "  will "  of  an  all- 
wise  Intercessor,  who  ever  pleads  in 
love,  and  never  pleads  in  vain  I 

"  BH   IT  UNTO  MT!   ACCORDING  TO  THY  WORD." 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  95 

24th  EvBxiNO. 

"  Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also." — John  xiv.  19. 

-^1     G;        ill     GrOi^  sometimes  selects 

®P  |innititnliU  y^,  ^.^^  ,^^^3  ^^^  ^^. 

^cltUgL  during  objects  in  the 
material  world  to  illustrate  His  un- 
changing faithfulness  and  love  to  His 
Church.  "  As  the  mountains  are  round 
about  Jerusalem,  so  doth  the  Lord  com- 
pass His  people."  But  here,  the  Re- 
deemer fetches  an  argument  from  His 
oivn  everlasting  nature.  He  stakes,  so 
to  speak.  His  own  existence  on  that  of 
His  saints.  ^^  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live 
also." 

Believer  1  read  in  this  "  word  of 
Jesus"  thy  glorious  title-deed.  Thy 
Saviour  lives — and  His  life  is  the  guar- 
antee of  thine  own.  Our  true  Joseph 
is  alive.  "  He  is  our  Brother.  He  talks 
kindlv  to  us  !"     That  life  of  His,  is  all 


96  THE  WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

that  is  between  us  and  everlasting  ruin. 
But  with  Christ  for  our  life,  how  invio- 
lable our  security !  The  great  Foun- 
tain of  being  must  first  be  dried  up, 
Tjefore  the  streamlet  can.  The  great 
Sun  must  first  be  quenched,  ere  one 
glimmering  satellite  which  He  lights 
up  with  His  splendour  can.  Satan 
must  first  pluck  the  crown  from  that 
glorified  Head,  before  he  can  touch  one 
jewel  in  the  crown  of  His  people. 
They  cannot  shake  one  pillar  without 
shaking  first  the  throne.  "  If  we  per- 
ish," says  Luther,  "  Christ  perisheth 
with  us." 

Eeader !  is  thy  life  now  "  hid  with 
Christ  in  God  "  ?  Dost  thou  know  the 
blessedness  of  a  vital  and  living  union 
with  a  living  live-giving  Saviour  ? 
Canst  thou  say  with  humble  and  joy- 
ous confidence,  amid  the  fitfulness  of 
thine  own  ever-changing  frames  and 
feelings,  "  Nevertheless  I  live,  yet  not 
I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me  "  ?     "  Jesus 


THE    WORDS    OF   JESUS.  97 

liveihr — They  are  the  happiest  words 
a  lost  soul  and  a  lost  world  can  hear  ! 
Job,  four  thousand  years  ago,  rejoiced  in 
them.  "  I  know,"  says  he,  *'  that  I  have 
a  living  Kinsman  J'  John,  in  his  Pat- 
mos  exile,  rejoiced  in  them.  "  I  am  He 
that  liveth"  (or  the  Living  One),  was  the 
simple  but  sublime  utterance  with  which 
he  was  addressed  by  that  same  "Kins- 
man," when  He  appeared  arrayed  in 
the  lustres  of  His  glorified  humanity. 
*'  This  is  the  record  "  (as  if  there  was  a 
whole  gospel  comprised  in  the  state- 
ment), "  that  God  hath  given  to  us  eter- 
nal life,  and  this  life  is  in  His  Son." 
St.  Paul,  in  the  8th  chapter  to  the  Ro- 
mans— that  finest  portraiture  of  Chris- 
tian character  and  privilege  ever  drawn, 
begins  with  "no  condemnation,"  and 
ends  with  "  no  separation."  Why  "  no 
separation"?  Because  the  life  of  the 
believer  is  incorporated  with  tliat  of  his 
adorable  Head  and  Surety.  The  colos- 
sal Heart  of  redeemed  humanity  beaty 
7 


98  THE  WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

upon  tlie  throne,  sending  its  mighty 
pulsations  through  every  member  of 
His  body  ;  so  that,  before  the  believer's 
spiritual  life  can  be  destroyed,  Omnipo- 
tence must  become  feebleness,  and  Im- 
mutability become  mutable ! 

But,  blessed  Jesus,  "Thy  word  is 
very  sure,  therefore  Thy  servant  loveth 
if' 


"I   GIVB   CXTO    THEM    ETERNAL    UFB      AND    THEY    SHALL    NETQB 
PERISH,  jramiEB  SHALL  ANT  MAN  PLUCK  THEM  OUT  OF  MY  HAllD." 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  99 


25th  Eveninq, 


'Semember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said  "- 

"  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  tlie  end  of  the 
world." — Matt,  xxviii.  20. 

Such  were  "  tlie  words  of 
Jesus  "  when  he  was  just 
about  to  ascend  to  Heav- 
en. The  mediatorial  throne  was  in  view 
— the  harps  of  glory  were  sounding  in 
His  ears  ;  but  all  His  thoughts  are  on 
the  pilgrim  Church  He  is  to  leave  be- 
hind. His  last  words  and  benedictions 
are  for  them.  "I  go,*'  he  seems  to  say, 
"  to  Heaven,  to  my  purchased  crown — 
to  the  fellowship  of  angels — to  the  pre- 
sence of  my  Father  ;  hiU,  nevertheless, 
'  Lo !  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world.'  " 

How  faithfully  did  the  apostles,  to 
whom  this  promise  was  first  addressed, 
experience  its  reality  I  Hear  the  testi- 
mony of  the  beloved  disciple  who  had 


100  THE    WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

once  leant  on  his  Divine  Master's  bosom, 
— who  "had  heard,  and  seen,  and  looked 
upon  Him."  That  glorified  bosom  was 
now  hid  from  his  sight ;  but  does  he 
speak  of  an  absent  Lord,  and  of  His 
fellowship  onl}^  as  among  the  holy  mem- 
ories of  the  past  ?  No  !  with  rejoicing 
emphasis  he  can  exclaim — "  Truly  our 
fellowship  IS  with  ....  Jesus  Christy 

Amid  so  much  that  is  fugitive  here^ 
how  the  heart  clings  to  this  assurance 
of  the  abiding  presence  of  the  Saviour ! 
Our  best  earthly  friends — a  few  weeks 
may  estrange  them  ; — centuries  have 
rolled  on  —  Christ  is  still  the  sanie. 
How  blessed  to  think,  that  if  I  am  in- 
deed a  child  of  God,  there  is  not  the 
lonely  instant  I  am  without  His  guard- 
ianship !  When  the  beams  of  the  morn- 
ing visit  my  chamber,  the  brighter 
beams  of  a  brighter  Sun  are  shining 
upon  me.  When  the  shadows  of  even- 
ing are  gathering  around,  "it  is  not 
night,  if  He,  the  unsetting  '  Sun  of  my 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  101 

Bi)ul,'  is  near."  He  is  no  fitful  compan- 
ionship— present  in  prosperity,  gone  in 
adversity.  He  never  changes.  He  is 
always  the  same, — in  sickness  and  soli- 
tude, in  joy  and  in  sorrow,  in  life  and 
in  death.  Not  more  faithfully  did  the 
pillar-cloud  and  column  of  fire  of  old 
precede  Israel,  till  the  last  murmuring 
ripple  of  Jordan  fell  on  their  ears  on  the 
shores  of  Canaan,  then  does  the  presence 
and  love  of  Jesus  abide  with  his  people. 
Has  His  word  of  promise  ever  proved 
false  ?  Let  the  great  cloud  of  witnesses 
now  in  glory  testify.  "  Not  one  thing 
hath  failed  of  all  that  the  Lord  our  God 
hath  spoken."  This  "  word  of  the  Lord 
is  tried" — "  having  loved  his  own,  which 
were  in  the  world,  He  loved  them  unto 
the  endy 

Believer !  art  thou  troubled  and 
tempted?  Do  dark  providences  and 
severe  afflictions  seem  to  belie  the  truth 
and  reality  of  this  gracious  assurance  ? 
"If  the  Lord  be  indeed  with  us,  why 


102  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

has  all  this  befallen  us  ?"  Be  assured 
He  has  some  faithful  end  in  view.  By 
the  removal  of  prized  and  cherished 
earthly  props  and  refuges,  He  would 
unfold  more  of  His  own  tenderness. 
Amid  the  wreck  and  ruin  of  earthly 
joys,  which,  it  may  be,  the  grave  has 
hidden  from  your  sight,  One  nearer 
dearer,  tenderer  still,  would  have  you 
say  of  Himself,  "  The  Lord  liveth;  and 
blessed  be  my  Rock  ;  and  let  the  God  of 
my  salvation  be  exalted."  "  Thanks  be 
to  God,  who  ahvays  maketh  us  to  tri- 
umph in  Christ."  Yes !  and  never  more 
so  than  when,  stripped  of  all  competing 
objects  of  creature  affection,  we  are  left, 
like  the  disciples  on  the  Mount,  witli 
"  Jesus  only  I " 

"  THESE  THnfGS  HAVE  I  SPOKEN  UNTO  YOU  THIT  IS 
MB  YE  MIGHT  HATE  FBAOB." 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  103 


26th  Eveninck 

"Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

<'  I  am  the  resurr(;ction  and  the  life  :  he  that  believeth 
In  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  hve." — Matt,  xi, 
25. 

VI     ^A  ,.      What  a  voice  is  this 

'(TllB  hmnnim  ^^.^^^^  over  a  world 
ann  im.  ^i^^^^i  for  six  thousand 
years  has  been  a  dormitory  of  sin  and 
death!  For  four  thousand  of  these 
years,  heathendom  could  descry  no  light 
through  the  bars  of  the  grave  ;  her  ora- 
cles were  dumb  on  the  great  doctrine  of 
a  future  state,  and  more  especially  re- 
garding the  body's  resurrection.  Even 
the  Jewish  Church,  under  the  Old  Testa- 
ment dispensation,  seemed  to  enjoy  little 
more  than  fitful  and  uncertain  glimmer- 
ings, like  men  groping  in  the  dark.  It 
required  death's  great  Abolisher  to  shew, 
to  a  benighted  world,  the  luminous 
"  path  of  life."  With  Him  rested  the 
"  bringing   in   of   a   better   hope" — the 


104  THE   WORDS    OF   JESUS. 

unfolding  of  "  the  mystery  wliicli  liad 
been  hid  from  ages  and  generations." 
Marvellous  disclosure !  that  this  mortal 
frame,  decomposed  and  resolved  into  its 
original  dust,  shall  yet  start  from  its 
ashes,  remodelled  and  reconstructed — 
"a  glorified  body!"  Not  like  "the 
earthly  tabernacle"  (a  mere  shifting  and 
moveable  tent^  as  the  word  denotes),  but 
incorruptible — immortal !  The  beaute- 
ous transformation  of  the  insect  from 
its  chrysalis  state — the  buried  seed 
springing  up  from  its  tiny  grave  to  the 
full-eared  corn  or  gorgeous  flower — 
these  are  nature's  mute  utterances  as  to 
the  possibility  of  tliis  great  truth,  which 
required  the  unfoldings  of  "a  more  sure 
word  of  prophecy."  But  the  Gospel  has 
fully  revealed  what  Reason,  in  her  lof- 
tiest imaginings,  could  not  have  dreamt 
of.  Jesus  "  hath  brought  life  and  im- 
mortality to  light."  He,  the  Bright  and 
Morning  Star,  hath  "  turned  the  sliadow 
of  death  into  the  morning.''     He  gives. 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  105 

in  His  own  resurrection,  the  earnest  of 
that  of  His  people  ; — He  is  the  first- 
fruits  of  the  immortal  harvest  3^et  to  be 
gathered  into  the  garner  of  Heaven. 

Precious  truth !  This  "  word  of  Jesus" 
spans  like  a  celestial  rainbow  the  en- 
trance to  the  dark  valley.  Death  is 
robbed  of  its  sting.  In  the  case  of 
every  child  of  God,  the  grave  holds  in 
custody  precious,  because  redeemed,  dust. 
Talk  of  it  not,  as  being  committed  to  a 
dishonoured  tomb! — it  is  locked  up, 
rather,  in  the  casket  of  God  until  tlie 
day  "  when  He  maketh  up  His  jewels," 
when  it  will  be  fashioned  in  deathless 
beauty  like  unto  the  glorified  body  of 
the  Redeemer.  Angels,  meanwhile,  are 
commissioned  to  keep  watch  over  it,  till 
the  trump  of  the  archangel  shall  pro- 
claim  the  great  "  Easter  of  creation.'" 
They  are  the  "  reapers,"  waiting  for  the 
world's  great  "  Harvest  Home,"  when 
Jesus  Himself  shall  come  again — not 
as  He  once  did,  humiliated  and  in  sor- 


106  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

row,  but  rejoicing  in  the  thought  of 
bringing  back  all  His  sheaves  with  him. 
Afflicted  and  bereaved  Christian ! — 
thou  who  mayest  be  mourning  in  bitter- 
ness those  who  are  not — rejoice  through 
thy  tears  in  these  hopes  "  full  of  immor- 
tality." The  silver  cord  is  only  "  loosed," 
not  broken.  Perchance,  as  thou  stand- 
cst  in  the  chamber  of  death,  or  by  the 
brink  of  the  grave, — in  the  depths  of 
that  awful  solitude  and  silence  which 
reigns  around, — this  may  be  thy  plain- 
tive and  mournful  soliloquy — "  Shall 
the  dust  praise  Thee  ?"  Yes,  it  shall  I 
This  very  dust  that  hears  now  unheedev2 
thy  footsteps,  and  unmoved  thy  tear&, 
shall  through  eternity  praise  its  redeen*- 
ing  God — it  shall  proclaim  His  truth ! 


"lokd,  to  whom  shall  we  go  but  ttnto  thbe,  thou 
HAST  niK  WORDS  OF  ETERNAL  LIFE." 


THE    WORDS   OP   JESUS. 


2Ttu  Eveninq. 


"Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  A  littb  while,  and  ye  shall  not  see  me  :  and  again,  a 
little  while,  and  ye  shall  see  me,  because  I  go  to  the 
Father." — John  xvi.  16. 

.,     „.,,.     Long   seem    tlie    moments 

L^ri  ^^^^  ^^  ^^®  separated 
it'lJIlB,  from  the  friend  we  love. 
An  absent  brother — how  his  return  is 
looked  and  longed  for !  The  "  Elder 
Brother"  —  the  "Living  Kinsman" — 
sends  a  message  to  His  waiting  Church 
and  people — a  word  of  solace,  telling 
that  soon  ("a  little  while"),  and  He  will 
oe  back  again,  never  again  to  leave 
them. 

There  are  indeed  blessed  moments  of 
communion  which  the  believer  enjoys 
with  His  beloved  Lord  noiv ;  but  how 
fitful  and  transient !  To-day,  life  is  a 
brief  Emmaus  journey — the  soul  happy 
in  the  presence  and  love  of  an  unseen 
Saviour.     To-morrow,  He  is  gme  ;  and 


108  THE    WORDS    OF   JESUS. 

the  bereft  spirit  is  led  to  interrogate  it- 
self in  plaintive  sorrow,  "  Where  is  now 
thy  God  ?"  Even  when  there  is  no  such 
experience  of  darkness  and  depression, 
how  much  there  is  in  the  world  around 
to  fill  the  believer  with  sadness !  His 
Lord  rejected  and  disowned — His  love 
set  at  naught — His  providences  slighted 
— His  name  blasphemed — His  creation 
groaning  and  travailing  in  pain — dis- 
union, too,  among  His  people — His  lov- 
ing heart  wounded  in  the  house  of  His 
friends ! 

But  "  yet  a  little  while,"  and  all  this 
mystery  of  iniquity  will  be  finished. 
The  absent  Brother's  footfall  will  soon 
be  heard, — no  longer  "  as  a  wayfaring 
man  who  turneth  aside  to  tarry  for  a 
night,"  but  to  receive  His  people  into 
the  permanent  "mansions"  His  love  has 
been  preparing,  and  from  which  they 
shall  go  no  more  out.  Oh,  blessed  day ! 
when  creation  will  put  on  her  Easter 
robes— wli en  her  Lord,  so  long  dishon- 


THE    WOKDS    OF   JESUS.  109 

oured,  will  be  enthroned  amid  tlie  ho- 
sannahs  of  a  rejoicing  universe — angels 
lauding  Him— saints  crowning  Him — 
sin,  the  dark  plague-spot  on  His  universe, 
extinguished  forever — death  swallowed 
up  in  eternal  victory! 

And  it  is  but  "  a  little  while !"  "  Yet 
a  little  while,"  w^e  elsewhere  read,  "  and 
He  that  shall  come  will  come,  and  will 
not  tarry"  (literally,  "  a  little  while  as 
may  be").  "  He  will  stay  not  a  moment 
longer,"  says  Goodwin,  "  than  He  hath 
despatched  all  our  business  in  Heaven 
for  us."  With  what  joy  will  He  send 
His  mission-Angel  with  the  announce- 
ment, "  the  little  while  is  at  an  end ;" 
and  to  issue  the  invitation  to  the  great 
festival  of  glory,  "  Come !  for  all  things 
are  ready !" 

Child  of  sorrow !  think  often  of  this 
"  little  ivhile."  "  The  days  of  thy  mourn- 
ing will  soon  be  ended."  There  is  a 
limit  set  to  thy  suffering  time, — "  After 
that  ye  have  suffered  a  while."     Every 


110  THE  WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

wave  is  numbered  between  you  and  the 
haven ;  and  then,  when  that  haven  is 
reached,  oh,  what  an  apocalypse  of 
glory  !  —  the  "  little  while  "  of  time 
merged  into  the  great  and  unending 
"  while"  of  eternity ! — to  he  forever  ivith 
the  Lord — the  same  unchanged  and  un- 
changing Saviour ! 

"  A  little  while,  and  ye  shall  see  me !" 
Would  that  the  eye  of  faith  might  be 
kept  more  intently  fixed  on  "  that  glo- 
rious appearing !"  How  the  world,  with 
its  guilty  fascinations,  tries  to  dim  and 
obscure  this  blessed  hope!  How  the 
heart  is  prone  to  throw  out  its  fibres  here, 
and  get  them  rooted  in  some  perishable 
object !  Reader !  seek  to  dwell  more  ha- 
bitually on  this  the  grand  consummation 
of  all  thy  dearest  wishes.  "  Stand  on 
the  edge  of  your  nest,  pluming  your  wings 
for  flight."  Like  the  mother  of  Sisera, 
be  looking  for  the  expected  chariot. 

"be    18    FAITHFUL    THAT    PR0MI8KD." 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  HI 


28th  Evemno. 


**  Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God."— 
Matt.  V.  8. 

./If  u  Qr>n«+;fi.   Here  is  Heaven !     This 
&\ftfm\lk   «^,,^   of  Jesus  "repre- 

^^^^^^^*  sents  the  future  state  of 
the  glorified  to  consist  not  in  locality, 
but  in  character  ;  the  essence  of  its  bliss 
is  the  full  vision  and  fruition  of  God. 
Our  attention  is  called  from  all  vague 
and  indefinite  theories  about  the  cir- 
cumstantials of  future  happiness.  The 
one  grand  object  of  contemplation — the 
•'  glory  which  excelleth,"  is  tJie  sight  of 
God  Himself/  The  one  grand  practi- 
cal lesson  enforced  on  His  people,  is  the 
cultivation  of  that  purity  of  heart  with- 
out which  none  could  sec,  or  (even 
could  we  suppose  it  possible  to  be  ad- 
mitted to  see  Him)  none  could  eiijoy 
God !     '•  The  kingdom  of  Heaven  com- 


112  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

eth  not  witli  observation  .  .  .  tlie  king- 
dom of  God  is  luithin  you." 

Reader !  hast  thou  attained  any  of 
this  heart-purity  and  heart-prepara- 
tion? It  has  been  beautifully  said 
tliat  "  the  openings  of  the  streets  of 
heaven  are  on  earth."  Even  here  we 
may  enjoy,  in  the  possession  of  holiness, 
some  foretaste  of  coming  bliss.  Who 
has  not  felt  that  the  happiest  moments 
of  tiieir  lives  were  those  of  close  walk- 
ing with  God — nearness  to  the  mercy- 
seat — when  self  was  surrendered,  and 
the  eye  was  directed  to  the  glory  of 
Jesus,  with  most  single,  unwavering, 
undivided  aim  ?  What  will  Heaven  be, 
but  the  entire  surrender  of  the  soul  to 
Him,  without  any  bias  to  evil,  witliout 
the  fear  of  corruption  within  echoing 
to  temptation  without ;  every  thought 
brought  into  captivity  to  the  obedience 
of  Christ ;  no  contrariety  to  His  mind  : 
all  in  blessed  unison  with  His  will ; 
the  whole  heing  impregnated  with  holi- 


THE   WORDS   OP  JESUS.  113 

ness — the  intellect  purified  and  enno- 
bled, consecrating  all  its  powers  to  His 
service — memory,  a  holy  repository  of 
pure  and  hallowed  recollections — the 
aifections,  without  one  competing  rival, 
purged  from  all  the  dross  of  earthliness 
— the  love  of  God,  the  one  supreme 
animating  passion — the  glory  of  God, 
the  motive  principle  interfused  through 
every  thought,  and  feeling,  and  action 
of  the  life  immortal  ; — in  one  word,  the 
heart  a  pellucid  fountain  ;  no  sediment 
to  dim  its  purity,  no  "  angel  of  sorrow '' 
to  come  and  trouble  the  pool !  The  long 
night  of  life  over,  and  this  the  glory  of 
the  eternal  morrow  which  succeeds  it ! 
"  I  shall  be  satisfied,  when  I  awake,  with 
Thy  likeness." 

Yes,  this  is  Heaven,  subjectively  and 
objectively— 2>z«%  of  heart,  and  "  God 
all  in  all!'''  Much,  doubtless,  there 
may  and  will  be  of  a  subordinate  kind, 
to  intensify  the  bliss  of  the  Redeemed  ; 
communion  with  saints  and  angels ; 
8 


114  THE  WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

re-admission  into  the  society  of  death* 
divided  friends  :  but  all  these  will  fade 
before  the  great  central  glory,  "  God 
Himself  shall  be  with  them,  and  be 
their  God;  they  shall  see  His  face  I  ^^ 
Believers  have  been  aptly  called  helio' 
tropes — turning  their  faces  as  the  sun- 
flower towards  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness, and  hanging  their  leaves  in  sad- 
ness and  sorrow  when  that  Sun  is 
away.  It  will  be  in  Heaven  the  em- 
blem is  complete.  Tliere^  every  flower 
in  the  heavenly  garden  will  be  turned 
Godwards,  bathing  its  tints  of  loveli- 
ness in  the  glory  that  excelleth  I 
Reader,  may  it  be  yours,  when  o'er- 
canopied  by  that  cloudless  sky,  to  know 
all  the  marvels  contained  in  these  few 
glowing  words,  "  We  shall  be  like  Him, 
for  we  shall  see  Him  as  He  is." 


'AND  EVBRT  MAN  THAT  HATH  TfflS  HOPE  IN  mfl  PCKIFIBni 
HIMSELF  EVEN   AS  BE  19  FURK    ' 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  115 

29th  EVKNINa 

"Kemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said  "— 

"In  my  Father's  house  are  many  mansions." — John  xiv.  2. 

rlt    iiii        What  a  home  aspect  there 

Mmmm,  ^^  comforts  His  Church 
by  telling  them  that  soon  their  wilder- 
ness-wanderings will  be  finished, — the 
tented  tabernacle  suited  to  their  present 
probation-state  exchanged  for  the  en- 
during mansion  I  "  Nor  will  it  be  any- 
strange  dwelling  :  a  FatJier^s  home — a 
Father's  welcome  awaits  them.  There 
will  be  accommodation  for  all.  Thou- 
sands have  already  entered  its  shin- 
ing gates, — patriarch's  prophets,  saints, 
martyrs,  young  and  old,  and  still  there 
is  room  I 

The  pilgrim's  motto  on  earth  is, 
"  Here  we  have  no  continuing  city." 
Even  "Sabbath  ients"  must  be  struck. 
Holy  seasons  of  communion  must  ter- 


116  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

minate.  "  Arise,  let  us  go  hence !  "  is 
a  summons  which  disturbs  tlie  sweetest 
moments  of  tranquillity  in  the  Church 
below  ; — but  in  Heaven^  every  believer 
becomes  a  pillar  in  the  temple  of  God, 
and  "  he  shall  go  no  more  outj^  Here  it 
is  but  the  lodging  of  a  wayfarer  turning 
aside  to  tarry  for  the  brief  night  of 
earth.  Here  we  are  but  "tenants  at 
will  ;"  our  possessions  are  but  move- 
ables—  ours  to-day,  gone  to-morrow. 
But  these  "many  mansions"  are  an 
inheritance  incorruptible  and  unfading. 
Nothing  can  touch  the  heavenly  patri- 
mony. Once  within  the  Father's  house, 
and  we  are  in  the  house  forever ! 

Think,  too,  of  Jesus,  gone  to  prepare 
these  mansions, — "  I  go  to  prepare  a 
place  for  you."  What  a  wondrous 
thought — Jesus  now  busied  in  Heaven 
in  His  Church's  behalf!  He  can  find 
no  abode  in  all  His  wide  dominions, 
befitting  as  a  permanent  dwelling  for 
His  ransomed  ones.     He  says,  "  I  'v\'ill 


THE   WORDS   OP  JESUS.  117 

make  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth. 
I  will  found  a  special  kingdom — I  will 
rear  eternal  mansions  expressly  for 
those  I  have  redeemed  with  My  blood ! " 

Reader !  let  the  prospect  of  a  dwelling 
in  this  "  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever/' 
reconcile  thee  to  any  of  the  roughness 
or  difficulties  in  thy  present  path — to 
thy  pilgrim  provision  and  pilgrim  fare. 
Let  the  distant  beacon-light,  that  so 
cheeringly  speaks  of  a  Home  brighter 
and  better  far  than  the  happiest  of 
earthly  ones,  lead  thee  to  forget  the 
intervening  billows,  or  to  think  of  them 
only  as  wafting  thee  nearer  and  nearer 
to  thy  desired  haven !  "  Would,"  says 
a  saint,  who  has  now  entered  on  his 
rest,  "  that  one  could  read,  and  write, 
and  pray,  and  eat  and  drink,  and  com- 
pose one's  self  to  sleep,  as  with  the 
thought, — soon  to  be  in  heaven,  and 
that  for  ever  and  ever ! " 

"My  Fatlier's  house!"  How  many 
a  departing  spirit  has  been  cheered  and 


118  THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 

consoled  by  the  sight  of  these  glorious 
Mansions  loeming  through  the  mists  of 
the  dark  valley, — the  tears  of  weeping 
friends  rebuked  by  the  gentle  chiding — 
"  If  ye  loved  me,  ye  would  rejoice  bo- 
cause  I  said,  I  go  unto  my  Father! 
Death  truly  is  but  the  entrance  to  this 
our  Father's  house.  We  speak  of  the 
"  shadow  of  death "  —  it  is  only  the 
shadow  which  falls  on  the  portico  as  we 
stand  for  a  moment  knocking  at  the 
longed-for  gate — the  next!  a  Father's 
voice  of  welcome  is  heard — 

"  SON  t  THOC  ART  EVER  WITH  ME,  AND  AIX  IBiX  I 
BATE  IS  TSINB." 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  119 


30th    EVEKINCk 


"Eetnember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

"  I  will  coins  again,  and  receive  you  unto  myself ;  that 
where  I  am   there  ye  may  be  also." — John  xiv.  3. 

^,  ^.  .V  Another  "  word  of 
'(KIlB^MnilSrt  promise"  concerning 
hmtn,  ^^Q  ChurcVs  "Blessed 
hope."  Orphaned  pilgrims,  dry  your 
tears !  Soon  the  Morning  Hour  will 
strike,  and  the  sighs  of  a  groaning  and 
burdened  creation  be  heard  no  more. 
Earth's  six  thousand  years  of  toil  and 
sorrow  are  waning  ;  the  Millennial  Sab- 
bath is  at  hand.  Jesus  will  soon  be 
heard  to  repeat  concerning  all  his  sleep 
ing  saints,  what  He  said  of  old  regard- 
ing one  of  them  :  "  I  go  to  awake  them 
out  of  sleep !  "  Your  beloved  Lord's 
first  coming  was  in  humiliation  and 
woe  ;  His  name  was- -the  "  Man  of  Sor- 
rows ; "  He  liad  to  travel  on,  amid  dark- 
ness and  desertion,  His  blood-stained 


120  THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS. 

path  ;  a  chaplet  of  tliorns  was  the  only 
crown  He  bore.  But  soon  He  will  como 
"  the  second  time  without  a  sin-offering 
unto  salvation,"  never  again  to  leave 
His  Church,  but  to  receive  those  who 
followed  Him  in  His  cross,  to  be  ever- 
lasting partakers  with  Him  in  His 
crown.  He  may  seem  to  tarry.  Exter- 
nal nature,  in  her  unvarying  and  un devi- 
ating sequences,  gives  no  indication  of 
His  approach.  Centuries  have  elapsed 
since  He  uttered  the  promise,  and  still 
He  lingers ;  the  everlasting  hills  wear 
no  streak  of  approaching  dawn ;  we 
seem  to  listen  in  vain  for  the  noise  of 
His  chariot  wheels.  "But  the  Lord  is 
not  slack  concerning  His  promise  ;  "  He 
gives  you  "this  word"  in  addition  to 
many  others  as  a  heepsahe — a  pledge 
and  guarantee  for  the  certainty  cf  His 
return, — "  /  luill  come  again.^' 

Who  can  conceive  all  the  surpassing 
blessedness  connected  with  that  advent  ? 
The  Elder  Brother  arrived  to  fetch  the 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  121 

younger  brethren  home  !  —  the  true 
Joseph  revealing  Himself  in  unuttera- 
ble tenderness  to  the  brethren  who 
were  once  estranged  from  Him — "ro- 
ceiving  them  unto  Himself" — not  satis- 
fied with  apportioning  a  kingdom  for 
them,  but,  as  if  all  His  own  joy  and 
bliss  were  intermingled  with  theirs, 
"  Where  /  rt??i,"  says  He,  "  there  you 
must  be  also."  "  Him  that  overcometh," 
says  He  again,  "  will  I  grant  to  sit  with 
Me  on  My  Throne." 

Believer !  can  you  now  say  with  some 
of  the  holy  transport  of  the  apostle, 
"  Whom  having  not  seen,  we  love "  ? 
What  must  it  be  when  you  come  to  see 
Him  "  face  to  face,"  and  that  for  ever 
and  ever  !  If  you  can  tell  of  precious 
hours  of  communion  in  a  sin-  stricken, 
woe-worn  world,  with  a  treacherous 
heart,  and  an  imperfect  or  divided  love, 
what  must  it  be  when  you  come,  in  a 
sinless,  sorrowless  state,  with  purified 
and  renewed  affections,  to  see  the  King 


122  THE  WORDS   OP  JESUS. 

in  His  beauty !  The  letter  of  an  absent 
brother,  cheering  and  consolatory  as  it 
is,  is  a  poor  compensation  for  the  joys 
of  personal  and  visible  communion. 
The  absent  Elder  Brother  on  the  Throne 
speaks  to  you  now  only  by  His  Word 
and  Spirit, — soon  you  shall  be  admitted 
to  His  immediate  fellowship,  seeing  Him 
"  as  He  is  " — He  Himself  unfolding  the 
wondrous  chart  of  His  providence  and 
grace — leading  you  about  from  fountain 
to  fountain  among  the  living  waters, 
and  with  His  own  gentle  hand  wiping 
the  last  lingering  tear-drop  from  your 
eye.  Heaven  an  everlasting  home  with 
Jesus  !  "  Where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be 
also.'' — He  has  appended  a  cheering 
postscript  to  this  word,  on  which  Ho 
has  "  caused  us  to  hope : " — 


HB  WHICH  TESITFIETH  THESE  THINGS  SATTH,  SUKKLT  I 
coirs  QUICKLY." 


THE   WORDS   OP   JESUS.  123 


31S1   EVSNINQ. 

"Bemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how 
He  said"— 

•*  Blessed  are    those  servants  whom    the  Lord  when  Ho 

cometh  shall  find  watching." — Luke  xii.  32. 

^,     ^1    .        Child  of  God  I    is  this 

W  (Rinsing  ^j^j^3  ^t^it^^^^  ^g  t^3  g^. 

iorEraittinn.  pectant  of  thy  Lord's  ap- 
pearing  ?  Are  thy  loins  girded,  and 
thy  lights  burning  ?  If  the  cry  were  to 
break  upon  thine  ears  this  day,  "  Be- 
hold, the  Bridegroom  cometh,"  couldst 
thou  joyfully  respond — "  Lo,  this  is  my 
God,  I  have  waited  for  Him"  ?  When 
He  may  come,  we  cannot  tell ; — ages 
may  elapse  before  tJien.  It  may  be 
centuries  before  our  graves  are  gilded 
with  the  beams  of  a  Millennial  sun  ;  but 
while  He  may  or  may  not  come  sooii^ 
He  must  come  at  some  time — ay,  and 
the  day  of  our  death  is  virtually  to  all 
of  us  the  day  of  His  coming. 

Reader !  put  not  off  the  solemn  pre- 


124  THE  WORDS   OF  JESUS. 

paration.  Be  not  deceiyed  or  deluded 
with  the  mocker's  presumptuous  chal- 
enge,  "  Where  is  the  promise  of  His 
coming  ?"  See  to  it  that  the  calls  of  an 
engrossing  world  without,  do  not  foster 
this  procrastinating  spirit  within.  It 
may  be  now  or  never  with  thee.  Put 
not  off  thy  sowing  time  till  harvest 
time.  Leave  nothing  for  a  dying  hour, 
hut  to  die,  and  calmly  to  resign  thy  spirit 
into  the  hands  of  Jesus.  Of  all  times, 
that  is  the  least  suitable  to  have  the 
vessel  plenished — to  attend  to  the  great 
business  of  life  when  life  is  ebbing — to 
trim  the  lamp  when  the  oil  is  done  and 
it  is  flickering  in  its  socket — to  begin 
to  watch,  when  the  summons  is  heard 
to  leave  the  watch-tower  to  meet  our 
God! 

Were  you  never  struck  how  often, 
amid  the  many  gentle  words  of  Jesus, 
the  summons  ''  to  watch,"  is  over  and 
over  repeated,  like  a  succession  of  alarum- 
bells    breaking  ever   and   anon,   amid 


THE   WORDS   OF   JESUS.  125 

chimes  of  heavenly  music,  to  rouse 
a  sleeping  Church  and  a  slumbering 
world  ? 

Let  this  last  "  Word"  of  thy  Lord's 
send  thee  to  thy  knees  with  the  ques- 
tion,— "Am  I  indeed  a  servant  of 
Christ  ?"  Have  I  fled  to  Him,  and  am 
I  reposing  in  Him,  as  my  only  Saviour  ? 
— or  am  I  still  lingering,  like  Lot, 
when  I  should  be  escaping — sleeping, 
when  I  should  be  waking — neglecting 
and  trifling,  when  "  a  long  eternity  is 
lying  at  my  door"  ?  He  is  my  last  and 
only  refuge  ;  neglect  Him — all  is  lost ! 

Believer !  thou  who  art  standing  on 
thy  watch-tower,  be  more  faithful  than 
ever  at  thy  post.  Remember  what  is 
implied  in  watching.  It  is  no  dreamy 
state  of  inactive  torpor :  it  is  a  holy 
jealousy  over  the  heart — waking  vigi- 
lance regarding  sin — every  avenue  and 
loophole  of  the  soul  carefully  guarded. 
Holy  living  is  the  best,  the  only,  pre- 
parative  for   lioly  dying.      "  Persuade 


126  THE  WOKDS   OF   JESUS. 

yourself,"  says  Rutherford,  "  the  King 
is  coming.  Read  His  letter  sent  be- 
fore Him.  '  Behold,  I  come  quickly  ;' 
wait  with  the  wearied  night-watch  for 
the  breaking  of  the  Eastern  sky." 

Let  these  "  Words  of  Jesus"  we  have 
now  been  meditating  upon  in  this  little 
volume,  be  as  the  Golden  Bells  of  old, 
hung  on  the  vestments  of  the  officiating 
High  priest,  emitting  sweet  sounds  to 
His  spiritual  Israel — telling  that  the 
true  Higli  Priest  is  still  living  and 
pleading  in  "  the  Holiest  of  all ;"  and 
that  soon  He  will  come  forth  to  pour  His 
blessing  on  His  waiting  Church.  We 
have  been  pleasingly  employed  in  ga- 
thering up  a  few  "  crumbs"  falling  from 
"the  Master's  table."  Soon  we  shall 
have,  not  the  "  Words,"  but  the  'presence 
of  Jesus — not  the  crumbs  falling  from 
His  table,  but  everlasting  fellowship 
with  the  Master  Himself. 

*'  Amen,  even  so,  come  lord  jestjh." 


"  M\txiiatt 


Comfort  #iie  Unotjer 


toitfe 


%3ii3(&  mtB%§3: 


1  rsnm.  tv.  18, 


THE  FAITHFUL  PEOMISEE 


It  has  often  been  felt  a  delightful  exercise  by 
the  child  of  Grod,  to  take,  night  by  night,  an 
individual  promise,  and  plead  it  at  the  mercy - 
£eat.  Often  are  your  iprajers  pointless,  from  not 
following  in  this  respect  the  example  of  the 
fiweet  psalmist  of  Israel,  the  royal  promise- 
pleader,  who  dehghted  to  direct  his  finger  to 
Bome  particular  "  word  "  of  the  faithfal  Promise, 
Baying,  "  Remember  thy  word  unto  thy  servant, 
on  which  thou  hast  caased  me  to  hope." 

The  following  are  a  few  gleanings  from  the 
promise-treasury,  a  few  crumbs  from  the  Mas- 
ter's table,  which  may  serve  to  help  the  thoughts 
in  the  hour  of  closet  meditation  or  the  season 
of  sorrow. 


(2) 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE. 


"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"  Come  now,  and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the  Lord  : 
Though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  sliall  be  as  white  as 
Bnow,  though  they  be  red  Uke  crimson,  they  shall  be  as 
wool." — Isaiah  i.  18. 

w.  V  .  My  soul,  thy  God  siimmona 
f  nriinillllg  ^i^^^  ^^  |^jg  audience-cham- 
(i^ruiB.  -j^gj,^  Infinite  purity  seeks 
to  reason  with  infinite  vileness.  Deity 
stoops  to  speak  to  dust.  Dread  not  the 
meeting.  It  is  the  most  gracious,  as 
well  as  wondrous  of  all  conferences. 
Jehovah  himself  breaks  silence.  He 
utters  the  best  tidings  a  lost  soul  or  a 
lost  world  can  hear :  "  God  is  in 
Christ  reconciling  the  world  unto  him- 
self, not  imputing  unto  men  their  tres- 
passes." What!  scarlet  sins  and  crim- 
son sins ;  and  these  all  to  be  for- 
given and  forgotten  ?  The  just  God 
"justifying"  the  unjust — the  mightiest 
of  all  beings,  the  kindest  of  all.  0, 
what  is  there  in  thee  to  merit  such  love 


4  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE. 

as  this  ?  Thou  mightest  have  known 
thy  God  only  as  the  "  consuming  fire," 
and  had  nothing  before  thee,  save  "  a 
fearful  looking  for  of  vengeance."  This 
gracious  conference  bids  thee  dispel 
tliy  fears.  It  tells  thee,  it  is  no  longer 
a  '•  fearful,"  but  a  blessed  thing  to  be  in 
His  hands.  Hast  thou  closed  with  these 
his  overtures  ?  Until  thou  art  at  peace 
with  Him,  happiness  must  be  a  stranger 
to  thy  bosom.  Though  thou  hast  all 
else  besides,  bereft  of  God  thou  must  be 
"  bereft  indeed." 

Lord,  I  come.  As  thy  pardoning 
grace  is  freely  tendered,  so  shall  I  freely 
accept  it.  May  it  be  mine,  even  now, 
to  listen  to  the  gladdening  accents,  Son, 
Daughter,  be  of  good  cheer ;  thy  sins 
which  are  many  are  all  forgiven  thee ! 

"BSMEMBHK  THIS  WORD  UNTO  THY  SERVANT,  UPON   WHICH  TBOK 
VLSSt  CAUSED  ItK  TO  HOITJ.' 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMTSER.  5 

2d  DAT 

"He  ia  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"  As  tb7  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be."— Deut.  xxxii.  25 

/!^   vi^  I  /!>  GrOD  does  not  ffive  srrace 

MnM  (frm  tni  the  hou.  of  trial 

comes.  But  when  it  does  come,  the 
amount  of  grace  and  the  special  grace 
required  is  vouchsafed.  My  soul,  do 
not  dwell  with  painful  apprehensions 
on  the  future.  Do  not  anticipate  com- 
ing sorrows  ;  perplexing  thyself  about 
the  grace  needed  for  future  emergencies  : 
to-morrow  will  bring  its  promised  grace 
along  with  to-morrow's  trials.  God, 
wishing  to  keep  his  people  humble  and 
and  dependent  on  himself,  gives  not  a 
stock  of  grace  ;  He  metes  it  out  for 
every  day^s  exigencies,  that  they  may  be 
constantly  travelling  between  their  own 
emptiness  and  Christ's  fulness — their 
own  weakness  and  Christ's  strength. 
But  whev  tlio  exigency  comes,  thou  may- 


6  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

est  safely  trust  an  almiglity  arm  to  bear 
thee  through. 

Is  there  now  some  ''  thorn  in  the 
flesh"'  sent  to  lacerate  thee?  Thou 
may  est  have  been  entreating  the  Lord 
for  its  removal.  Thy  prayer  has  doubt- 
less been  heard  and  answered  ;  but  not 
in  the  way  perhaps  expected  or  desired 
by  thee.  The  thorn  may  still  be  left 
to  goad,  the  trial  may  still  be  left  to 
buffet,  but  "  more  grace"  has  been  given 
to  endure  them.  0,  how  often  have  his 
people  thus  been  lead  to  glory  in  their 
infirmities  and  triumph  in  their  afflic- 
tions, seeing  the  power  of  Christ  rests 
more  abundantly  upon  them.  The 
strength  which  the  hour  of  trial  brings, 
often  makes  the  Christian  a  wonder  to 
himself. 

«*  EBMESIBER  THIS  WORD  UNTO  THY  SERVANT,  UPON  WTOCB  TBOV 
UAST  CAUSKD  ME  TO  HOPE." 


THE  Faithful  promiser.  T 

3d  Day. 

"He  is  FaitMul  that  Promised." 

<'  God  is  able  U»  make  all  grace  abound  toward  you  ;  that 
je  always  having  all-suflaciency  in  all  things,  may  abound  to 
every  good  work." — 2  Cor  ix.  8. 

"all  ^  fli  *  ,  "All-sufficiency  in  all 
ill-|limnBat  things!"  Believer, surely 
^^^^^-  thou  art  "  thoroughly  fur- 
nished." Grace  is  no  scanty  thing, 
doled  out  in  pittances.  It  is  a  glorious 
treasury,  which  the  key  of  prayer  can 
always  unlock,  but  never  empty.  A 
fountain, "  full  flowing,  ever  flowing,  over 
flowing."  Mark  these  three  alls  in 
this  precious  promise.  It  is  a  threefold 
link  in  a  golden  chain,  let  down  from  a 
throne  of  grace  by  a  God  of  grace. 
"  All  grace^^ — "  all-sufficiency'^  in  "  all 
things P''  and  these  to  "abound."  0, 
precious  thought!  My  wants  cannot  im- 
poverish that  inexhaustible  treasury  of 
grace.  Myriads  are  hourly  hanging  on 
it,  and  drawing  from  it,  and  yet  there  is 
no  diminution.     Out  of  that  fulness  all 


d  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

we  too  may  receive,  and  grace  for  grace. 
My  soul,  dost  not  thou  love  to  dwell  on 
that  all-abounding  grace  ?  Thine  own 
insufficiency  in  everything,  met  with  an 
"  all-sufficiency  in  all  things."  Grace 
in  all  circumstances  and  situations,  in 
all  vicissitudes  and  changes,  in  all  the 
varied  phases  of  the  Christian's  being. 
Grace  in  sunshine  and  storm,  in  health 
and  in  sickness,  in  life  and  in  death. 
Grace  for  the  old  believer,  and  the 
young  believer,  the  tried  believer  and 
the  weak  believer  and  the  tempted  be- 
liever. Grace  for  duty,  and  grace  in 
duty ;  grace  to  carry  the  joyous  cup 
with  a  steady  hand  ;  grace  to  drink  the 
bitter  cup  with  an  unmurmuring  spirit ; 
grace  to  have  prosperity  sanctified , 
grace  to  say,  through  tears,  "  Thy  will 
be  done." 


BEMBMBKR    THIS    WORD    tTKTO    THY    SEBTAWT,    VTOV 
WmOH    THOa    HA-ST    CAUSED     MB    TO    HOPB." 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER.  9 

4Tn  Dai, 
"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

'■  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless  ;  I  will  come  to  you."— 
John  siv.  18. 

gr  r  .♦  Blessed  Jesus, how tliypres- 
(LnmiOriing  ^^^^  sanctifies  trial,  takes 
Cprnrr.  loneliness  from  the  chamber 
of  sickness,  and  gloom  from  the  chamber 
of  death  I  Bright  and  Morning  Star, 
precious  at  all  times,  thou  art  never  so 
precious  as  in  "  the  dark  and  cloudy 
day."  The  bitterness  of  sorrow  is  well 
worth  enduring,  to  have  thy  promised 
consolations.  How  well  qualified,  thou 
Man  of  sorrows,  to  be  my  Comforter ! 
How  well  fitted  to  dry  my  tears,  thou 
who  didst  shed  so  many  thyself!  What 
are  my  tears,  my  sorrows,  my  crosses, 
my  losses,  compared  with  thine,  who 
didst  shed  first  thy  tears,  and  then  thy 
blood  for  me  ?  Mine  are  all  deserved, 
and  are  infinitely  less  than  have  been 
merited.      How   difi'erent,   0,    spotless 


10  THE   FAITHFUL    PROMISEE, 

Lamb  of  God,  those  pangs  wliicli  rent 
tliy  guiltless  bosom ! 

How  sweet  those  comforts  thou  hast 
promised  to  the  comfortless,  when  I 
think  of  them  as  flowing  from  an  al- 
mighty Felloiv-sufferer — "  a  brother  bom 
for  adversity" — the  "  Friend  that  stick- 
eth  closer  than  a  brother!"  one  who  can 
say,  with  all  the  refined  sympathies  of 
a  holy,  exalted  human  nature,  "  I  know 
your  sorrows." 

My  soul,  calm  thy  griefs.  There  is 
not  a  sorrow  thou  canst  experience,  but 
Jesus  in  the  treasury  of  grace,  has  an 
exact  corresponding  solace.  In  the  mul- 
titude of  the  sorrows  I  have  in  my 
heart,  "  thy  comforts  delight  my  soul." 

"nKMEMBER    THIS    WOED    TTNTO    THY    6E11VVNT,    UrON 
WmOK    TUOU    HAST    CAUSED    ME    TO    flJPR." 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER.  11 


"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"  Satan  hatb  desired  to  have  you,  that  he  may  sift  you  aa 
wheat ;  but  I  have  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not." 
—Luke  xxii.  31,32. 

^    ,    .  .      What   a   scene    does  this 

ixrstrnniing  ^^^^j^ ,    g^^^^  tempting, 

CPiuiP.  Jesus  praying  ;  Satan  sift- 
ing, Jesus  pleading ;  the  strong  man 
assailing,  the  stronger  than  the  strong 
beating  him  back. 

Believer !  here  is  the  past  history  and 
present  secret  of  thy  safety  in  the  midst 
of  temptation.  An  interceding  Saviour 
was  at  thy  side,  saying  to  every  threat- 
ening wave,  "  Thus  far  shalt  thou  come, 
and  no  farther."  God  often  permits  his 
people  to  be  on  the  very  verge  of  the 
precipice,  to  remind  them  of  their  own 
weakness ;  but  never  further  than  the 
verge.  The  restraining  hand  and  grace 
of  Omnipotence  is  ready  to  rescue  them. 
*•  Though  he  fall,  he  shall  not  be  utterly 


12  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

cast  down  ; "  and  wliy  not  ?  "  for  the 
Lord  uplioldeth  him  with  his  hand." 
The  wolf  may  be  prowling  for  his  prey  ; 
but  what  can  he  do  when  the  Shepherd 
is  always  there,  tending  with  the  watcii- 
ful  eye  that  "  neither  slumbers  nor 
sleeps  ?  " 

What  believer  cannot  subscribe  to  the 
testimony,  "  When  my  foot  slipped,  thy 
mercy,  0  Lord,  helped  me  up  ?  "  Who 
can  look  back  on  his  past  pilgrimage, 
and  fail  to  see  it  crowded  with  Eben- 
ezers  with  this  inscription,  "  Thou  hast 
delivered  my  soul  from  death,  mine 
eyes  from  tears,  and  my  feet  from  fall- 
ing ?  "  My  soul,  where  wouldst  thou 
have  been  this  day,  hadst  thou  not  been 
"  kept "  by  the  power  of  God  ? 

"  RSMEMFEU  THIS  WORD  INTO  THY   SFRVANT,  tJPOJf  WHICH   THOC 
HAST  CAUSED  ME  TO  HOPE  " 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER.  13 


"He  is  faithful  that  Promised." 
"  I  will  heal  their  backsliding.  "—Hosea  xiv.  4. 

y  .  .  Wandering  again!  And  hag 
Fxmnring  ^^  ^^^  ^^f^  me  to  perish  ? 
UPrnr?.  stumbling  and  straying  on 
the  dark  mountains,  away  from  the 
Shepherd's  eye  and  the  Shepherd's  fold, 
shall  He  not  leave  the  erring  wanderer 
to  the  fruit  of  his  own  ways,  and  his 
truant  lieart  to  go  hopelessly  onward  in 
its  career  of  guilty  estrangement  ?  "  My 
thoughts,"  says  God,  "  are  not  as  your 
thoughts,  neither  are  your  ways  as  my 
ways."  Man  would  say,  "  Go,  perish, 
ungrateful  apostate."  God  says,  "  Re- 
turn, ye  backsliding  children."  The 
Shepherd  ivill  not,  cannot  suffer  the 
sheep  to  perish  he  has  purchased  with 
his  own  blood.  How  wondrous  his 
forbearance  towards  it ;  tracking  its 
guilty  steps,  and  ceasing  not  the  pursuit 
till  he  lays  the  wanderer  on  his  shoiil- 


14  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEB. 

ders,  aud  returns  with  it  to  his  fold  re- 
joicing. 

My  soul,  why  increase  by  further  de- 
partures thine  own  distance  from  the 
fold  ?  Why  lengthen  the  dreary  road 
thy  gracious  Shepherd  has  to  traverse 
in  bringing  thee  back  ?  Delay  not  thy 
return.  Provoke  no  longer  his  pa- 
tience ;  venture  no  further  on  forbidden 
ground.  He  waits  with  outstretched 
arras  to  welcome  thee  once  more  to  his 
bosom.  Be  humble  for  the  past ;  trust 
him  for  the  future.  Think  of  thy  former 
backslidings,  and  tremble  ;  think  of  his 
forbearance  and  be  filled  with  holy  gra- 
titude ;  think  of  his  promised  grace, 
and  take  courage. 


THIS  WORD   UNTO  THY  SERVANT,  UPON  WHICH  ' 
WiSl  CAUSED  ME  TO  HOPE." 


THE    FAITHFUL    PEOMISER.  15 


"He  is  faithful  that  promised." 

''  He  that  hath  begun  a  good  work  in  you,  will  perform  it 
nntil  the  day  of  Jesus  Christ." — Pliil.  i.  6. 

^      ,.j.  ♦       Reader  !  is  tlie  G;ood  work 

i'lrnrmijing  ^^^^^  ^^  ^j^^^  ^^  ^^,^  ^^^^^^ 

^^^^^'  becoming  holy?  Is  sin 
more  and  more  crucified?  Are  thy 
heart's  idols  one  by  one  abolished  ?  Is 
the  world  less  to  thee,  and  eternity  more 
to  thee  ?  Is  more  of  thy  Saviour's  im- 
age impressed  on  thy  character,  and  thy 
Saviour's  love  more  enthroned  in  thy 
heart  ?  Is  salvation  to  thee  more  the 
one  thing  needful?  Oh!  take  heed! 
there  can  be  no  middle  ground,  no  stand- 
ing still :  or  if  it  be  so  with  thee,  thy 
position  must  be  a  false  one.  The  Sa- 
viour's blood  is  not  more  necessary  to 
give  thee  a  title  to  heaven,  than  his 
spirit  to  give  thee  a  meetness  for  it. 
"  If  any  man  have  not  the  spirit  of 
Christ,  he  is  7ione  of  his J^ 


16  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE.    « 

"  Onwards,"  sliould  be  thy  motto. 
There  is  no  standing  still  in  the  life  of 
faith.  "  The  man,"  says  Augustine, 
"  who  says,  ^ Enough,^  that  man's  soul  is 
lost."  Let  tliis  be  the  superscription  in 
all  thy  ways  and  doings,  "  Holiness  to 
the  Lord."  Let  the  monitory  word  ex- 
ercise over  thee  its  habitual  power, 
"  Without  holinens  no  man  shall  see  the 
Lord." 

Moreover,  remember  that  to  be  holy 
is  to  be  happy.  The  two  are  converti- 
ble  terms.  Holiness !  It  is  the  secret 
and  spring  of  the  joy  of  angels ;  and 
the  more  of  holiness  attained  on  earth — 
the  nearer  and  closer  my  walk  is  with 
God,  the  more  of  a  sweet  earnest  shall  I 
have  of  the  bliss  that  awaits  me  in  a 
holy  heaven.  0  my  soul !  let  it  be  thy 
Bacred  ambition  to  "  be  holy." 

"  BKUEMBKR   THIS    •WORO    UNTO    THY    SERVANT,    TTPOH 
WHICH   THOU    HAST   CAUSED   ME  TO   HOPE." 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER.  17 

8th  DAT. 

"  He  is  faithfal  that  promised." 

"  Tboy  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  tneir  strength; 
tliey  shall  mount  up  with  wings,  as  eagles  ;  they  shall  run, 
and  not  be  weary  ;  and  they  shall  walk,  and  not  faint." 
—Isaiah  xl.  31. 

^     .  .       "  Wilt  thou  not  revive  us,  O 

u^iuir.  conscious  of  thy  declining 
state  ?  Is  thy  walk  less  with  God — thy 
frame  less  heavenly?  Hast  thou  less 
conscious  nearness  to  the  mercy  seat — 
diminished  communion  with  the  Sa- 
viour ?  Is  prayer  less  a  privilege  than 
it  has  been  ;  the  pulsations  of  spiritual 
life  more  languid  and  fitful  and  spas- 
modic ;  the  bread  of  life  less  relished  ; 
the  seen  and  the  temporal  and  the  tan- 
gible displacing  the  unseen  and  the 
eternal  ?  Art  thou  sinking  down  into 
this  state  of  drowsy  self-contentment, 
this  conformity-life  with  the  world,  for- 
feiting all  the  happiness  of  true  relig- 
2 


18  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE. 

ion,  and  risking  and  endangering  tlie 
better  life  to  come  ? 

Arise,  call  upon  tliy  God.  "Wilt 
tliou  not  revive  us,  0  Lord  ?"  He  might 
have  returned  nothing  but  the  wither- 
ing repulse,  "How  often  would  I  have 
gathered  thee,  but  thou  wouldst  not !'' 
"  Ephraim  is  joined  to  his  idols  ;  let 
him  alone."  But  "  In  wrath  He  remem- 
bers mercy."  "  They  shall  revive  as 
as  the  corn."  "  The  mouth  of  the  Lord 
hath  spoken  it." 

How  and  where  is  reviving  grace  to 
be  found  ?  He  gives  thee  in  His  prec- 
ious promise  the  key.  It  is  on  thy  hiees 
— by  a  return  to  thy  deserted  and  un- 
frequented chamber,  '^Tliey  that  wait 
upon  the  Lord."  "  Wait  on  the  Lord, 
be  of  good  courage,  and  He  shall 
strengthen  thy  heart ;  wait,  I  say,  on 
the  Lord." 

"  RKMEMBRR  THIS    -VTORD   mTO   THT  SERVANT,  ITPOS 
WUIOQ  THOU  HAST  OAU^^D   UE  tO  HOPS." 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE.  19 

9th  Day. 

"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

" Tlie  righteous  also  shall  hold  oo  his  way." — Job  xvii.  9, 

^,  ♦        Reader,  how  comfortinor 

^^  and  Sowings  of  thy  chang- 

ing history,  to  know  that  the  change  is 
all  with  thee,  and  not  with  thy  God. 
Thy  spiritual  bark  may  be  tossed  on  the 
waves  of  temptation,  in  many  a  dark 
midnight.  Thou  mayest  think  thy  pilot 
hath  left  thee,  and  be  ready  continually 
to  say,  "  Where  is  my  God  ?"  But  fear 
not.  The  bark  which  bears  thy  spiritual 
destinies  is  in  better  hands  than  thine  ; 
a  golden  chain  of  covenant  love  links  it 
to  the  throne.  That  chain  can  never 
snap  asunder.  He  who  holds  it  in  his 
hand  gives  thee  this  as  the  pledge  of  your 
safety :  "  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live 
also." 

"  Why  art  thou  then  cast  down,  0  my 
Boul ;  and  why  art  thou  disquieted  within 


20  THE   FAITHFUL  PEOMISER. 

me  ?  liope  thcu  in  God^  Thou  wilt  as- 
suredly ride  out  of  these  stormy  surges, 
and  reach  the  desired  haven. 

But  be  faithful  with  thyself.  See  that 
there  be  nothing  to  hinder  or  impede 
thy  growth  in  grace.  Think  how  little 
may  retard  thy  progress.  One  sin  in- 
dulged, one  temptation  tampered  with, 
one  bosom  traitor,  may  cost  thee  many 
a  bitter  hour  and  bitter  tear,  by  separat- 
ing between  thee  and  thy  God.  Make 
it  thy  daily  prayer,  "  Search  me,  0  God, 
and  know  my  heart ;  try  me  and  know 
my  thoughts ;  and  see  if  there  be  any 
wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the 
way  everlasting." 

<  EKICKMBKR  THIS    WORD  UNTO  THT  SKRVANT,  DPON  WHIOH  IHOTl 
HJkST  GAUeiED  MB  TO  nOF& 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE.  21 

IOtu  Dat. 

"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

«'  I  have  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death."— Rev.  1,  18. 

Tn  ♦       ^  And  from  whom  could 

ftimg  fratf.  dying  grace  come  so  wel- 
come,  as  from  thee,  0  blessed  Jesus? 
Not  only  is  thy  name  "  The  Abolishei 
of  Death,"  but  thou  didst  thyself  die. 
Thou  hast  sanctified  the  grave  by  thine 
own  presence,  and  divested  it  of  all  its 
terrors. 

My  soul,  art  thou  at  times  afraid  of 
this,  thy  last  enemy  ?  If  the  rest  of  thy 
pilgrimage  be  peaceful  and  unclouded, 
rests  there  a  dark  and  portentous 
shadow  over  the  terminating  portals? 
Fear  not.  When  that  dismal  entrance 
is  reached,  He  who  has  the  keys  of  the 
grave  and  of  death  suspended  at  his 
golden  girdle,  will  impart  grace  to  bear 
thee  through.  It  is  the  messenger  of 
peace.  Thy  Saviour  calls  thee.  The 
promptings  of  nature  when  at  first  thou 


22  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEB. 

seest  tlie  darkening  wave,  may  be  like 
lliose  of  the  affrighted  disciples  when 
they  said,  "  It  is  a  spirit !"  and  cried  out 
for  fear. 

But  a  gentle  voice  will  be  heard  high 
above  the  storm, "  It  is  I ;  be  not  afraid." 
Death,  indeed,  as  the  wages  of  sin,  must 
even  by  the  believer  be  regarded  as  an 
enemy.  But  0,  blessed  thought,  it  is 
thy  last  enemy — the  cause  of  thy  last 
tear.  In  a  few  brief  moments  after  that 
tear  is  shed,  thy  God  will  be  wiping 
every  vestije  of  it  away.  "0  Death, 
where  is  thy  sting  ?  0  grave,  where  is 
thy  victory  ?  Thanks  be  unto  God,  v/ho 
giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."  Welcome,  vanquished 
foe !  Birthday  of  heaven.  "  To  die  is 
gain." 

"EnacMBER  THIS  word  unto  tht  servant,  upon  which  thott 

HAST  CAUSED  ME  TO  HOPE." 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE,  23 

11th   DAT. 

"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"The  Ix)rd  will  give  grace  aud  glory." — Psa.  Ixxxiv.  11. 

iliur  (it^rnR;  toilsome  warfare  will  all 
(j)m]\,  be  ended,  Jordan  crossed, 
Canaan  entered,  the  legion  enemies  of 
the  wilderness  no  longer  dreaded  ;  sor- 
row, sighing,  death,  and,  worst  of  all, 
S171  no  more  either  to  be  felt  or  feared. 

Here  is  the  terminating  link  in  the 
golden  chain  of  the  everlasting  covenant. 
It  began  with  grace;  it  ends  with  glory. 
It  began  with  sovereign  grace  in  a  by- 
past  eternity,  and  no  link  will  be  want- 
ing till  the  ransomed  spirit  be  presented 
faultless  before  the  throne. 

Grace  and  glory  !  If  the  earnest  be 
sweet,  what  must  be  the  reality  ?  If  the 
wilderness  table  contain  such  rich  pro- 
vision, what  must  be  the  glories  of  the 
eternal  banqueting  hou,^e  ?  0,  my  soul, 
make  sure  of  thine  interest  in  the  one, 


24  THE    FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

as  the  blessed  prelude  to  the  other. 
Having  access  by  faith  into  this  grace^ 
thou  canst  "  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory 
of  God  ;  for  whom  he  justifies,  them  ho 
also  glorifies.  Has  grace  begun  in  thee  ? 
Canst  thou  mark — though  it  should  bo 
but  the  drops  of  the  incipient  rill  which 
is  to  terminate  in  such  an  ocean — the 
tiny  grains  which  are  to  accumulate  and 
issue  in  such  an  "exceeding  weight  of 
glory?"  Delay  not  the  momentous 
question.  The  day  of  offered  grace  is 
on  the  wing,  its  hours  are  fast  number- 
ing ;  and  "  no  grace,  no  glory." 


THIS  WORD  UNTO  THT  SERVANT,   CPOK 
TBOIT  fUkST  CAUSED  MS  TO  HOriL" 


THE  FAITHFUL  PROMISER.     25 


12Tn  DAY, 

"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"  I  will  pray  the  Father,  and  he  shall  give  you  another 
Comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with  you  forever."— John 
xiv.  16 

(^m\hn  Blessed  Spirit  of  all 
^nmSA;  g^^c^'  ^0^  oft  have  I 
Cnmfnrter.  gHevedthee-resistedthy 
dealings,  quenched  thy  strivings ;  and 
yet  art  thou  still  pleading  with  me. 
0,  let  me  realize  more  than  I  do,  my 
need  of  thy  gracious  influences.  Ordi- 
nances, sermons,  communions,  providen- 
tial dispensations,  are  nothing  without 
thy  life-giving  power.  "  It  is  the  Spirit 
that  quickeneth."  "  No  man  can  call 
Jesus,  Lord,  but  by  the  Holy  Ghost." 

Church  of  the  living  God,  is  not  this 
one  cause  of  thy  deadness  ?  My  soul, 
is  not  this  the  secret  of  thy  languishing 
frames,  repeated  declensions,  uneven 
walk,  and  sudden  falls,  that  the  influ- 
ences of  the  Holy  Ghost  are  undervalued 


26  THE    FAITHFUL   PRuMISER. 

and  unsouglit  ?  Pray  for  the  outpouring 
of  this  blessed  Agent  for  the  world's 
renovation,  and  thine  own.  "I  will 
pour  out  my  Spirit  on  all  jQiesh,"  is  the 
precursor  of  millennial  bliss. 

Jesus,  draw  near  in  thy  mercy  to  this 
torpid  heart,  as  thou  didst  of  old  to  thy 
mourning  disciples,  and  breathe  upon  it, 
and  say,  "  Receive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost." 
It  is  the  mightiest  of  all  boons ;  but, 
like  the  sun  in  the  heavens,  it  is  the 
freest  of  all.  "  For  if  ye,  being  evil, 
know  how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your 
children,  how  much  more  shall  your 
Father  in  heaven  give  the  Holy  Spirit 
unto  them  that  ask  him  ?  " 


REMEMBER  THIS   WOIID  UNTO  THY  SERVANT,   UPON 
TflOU  HAST  OAUSED  MK  TO  HOFB." 


THE  FAITHFUL  PROMISER.     27 


"  He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

'■■  All  things  work  together  for  g^ood  to  them  that  love  God, 
to  them  that  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose."— 
Rom.  viii.  28. 

w.      .v     ,  ♦  ,  My  soul,  be  still ;  thou  art 
|r<'l"^t'}W  in  the  hands  of  %  cove- 

strange  vicissitudes  in  tliy  history  the 
result  of  accident  or  chance,  thou  might- 
est  well  be  overwhelmed ;  but  "  all 
things"  and  this  thing,  be  it  what  it 
may,  which  may  be  now  disquieting 
thee,  is  one  of  these  "  all  things "  that 
are  working  mysteriously  for  thy  good. 
Trust  thy  God.  He  will  not  deceive 
thee  ;  thy  interests  are  with  him  in  safe 
custody.  When  sight  says,  "  All  these 
things  are  against  me,"  let  faith  rebuke 
the  hasty  conclusion,  and  say,  "  Shall 
not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  ?" 
How  often  does  God  hedge  up  our  way 
with  thorns,  to  elicit  simple  trust.  How 
seldom  can  we  .see  all  things  so  woiking 


28  THE   FAITHFUL  PROMISER. 

for  our  good.  But  it  is  better  discipline 
to  believe  it.  0,  for  faith  amid  frowning 
providences  to  say,  ''  I  know  that  thy 
judgments  are  good  ;"  and,  relying  in 
the  dark,  to  exclaim,  "  though  he  slay 
me,  yet  will  I  trust  in  him."  Blessed 
Jesus,  to  thee  are  committed  the  reins 
of  this  universal  empire.  The  same  hand 
that  was  once  nailed  to  the  cross,  is  now 
wielding  the  sceptre  on  the  throne — ■ 
"all  power"  given  unto  thee  in  heaven 
and  in  earth.  How  can  I  doubt  the 
wisdom,  and  faithfulness,  and  love  of 
the  most  mysterious  earthly  dealing, 
when  I  know  that  the  roll  of  providence 
is  thus  in  the  hands  of  Him  who  has 
given  the  mightiest  pledge  omnipotence 
could  give  of  his  tender  interest  in  my 
soul's  well-being,  by  giving  himself  for 
me? 


t  THIS  WORD   U.VTO  THY  SERVANT,   UPON    WHICH 
THOD   HAST  CAUSED   MX  TO  HOPS." 


THE   FlITHFUL   PROMISEE.  29 

14th  Dat. 

**  He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"All  the  paths  of  the  Lord  are  mercy  and  truth  unto  such 
as  keep  hia  covenant  and  his  testimonies." — Psalm  xxv.  10. 

^  r  rtVY  |{  ♦        The  paths  of  the  Lord  I 

mt  itiniRing,  ^^^  g^^i^  j^g^ej.  follow 

thine  own  paths.  If  thou  dost  so,  thou 
wilt  be  in  danger  often  of  following 
sight  rather  than  faith — choosing  the 
evil,  and  refusing  the  good.  But  "  com- 
mit thy  way  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  shall 
bring  it  to  pass."  Let  this  be  thy 
prayer,  "  Show  me  thy  ways,  0  Lord  ; 
teach  me  thy  paths."  0,  for  CaleVs 
spirit,  "  ivholly  to  follow  the  Lord  my 
God " — to  follow  him  when  self  must 
be  sacrificed,  and  hardships  must  be 
borne,  and  trials  await  me — to  "  walk 
with  God,"  to  ask  in  simple  faith, 
''  What  wouldst  thou  have  me  to  do  ?" 
to  have  no  will  of  my  own,  save  this, 
that  God's  will  is  to  be  my  will.  Here 
is  safety,  here  is  happiness.     Fearlessly 


80  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

follow  the  guiding  Pillar.  He  will  lead 
you  by  a  right  way,  though  it  may  be  a 
way  of  hardship,  and  crosses,  and  losses, 
and  privations,  to  the  city  of  habita- 
tion. 0,  the  blessedness  of  thus  lying 
passive  in  the  hands  of  God  ;  saying, 
"  Undertake  thou  for  me  ;"  dwelling 
with  holy  gratitude  on  past  mercies  and 
interpositions  ;  taking  these  as  pledges 
of  future  faithfulness  and  love  ;  hearing 
his  voice  behind  us,  amid  life's  manifold 
perplexities,  exclaiming,  "This  is  the 
way ;  walk  ye  in  it."  Happy,  surely, 
are  every  people  who  are  in  such  a  case. 
Happy,  reader,  will  it  be  for  thee  if 
thou  canst  form  the  resolve  in  a  strength 
greater  than  thine  own,  "  This  God  shall 
be  my  God  forever  and  ever  ;  he  shall 
be  my  guide  even  unto  death." 

"  BEMEMBER  THIS  WORD  UNTO  THY  SERVANT,  XJPON  WHICH 
IHOC   HAST  CAUSED  ME  TO  HOPE." 


TUE    FAITHFUL    PROMISER.  31 


15th   DAt 


"  He  is  Faithfnl  that  Premised." 

<«  As  many  as  Hove  I  rebuke  and  chasten."— Re t.  iii.  19. 

Im  in  Clins-  ^'^^TT  ^"^''-f' '''"' 

i:  -       f       couldst   thou   wish   more 
limnm,      ^-^^^  ^j^.^  ^  r^j^^  furnace  is 

severe ;  but  look  at  this  assurance  of 
him  who  lighted  it.  Love  is  the  fuel  that 
feeds  its  flames.  Its  every  spark  is  love  ; 
kindled  by  a  Father's  hand,  and  de- 
signed as  a  special  pledge  of  a  Father's 
love.  How  many  of  his  dear  children 
has  he  so  rebuked  and  chastened  ;  and 
all,  all  for  one  reason,  Hove  them.  The 
myriads  in  glory  have  passed  through 
these  furnace-fires  ;  tliere  they  were  cho- 
sen—f/^ere  they  were  purified,  sanctified, 
and  made  "  vessels  meet  for  the  Master's 
use  ; "  the  dross  and  the  alloy  purged, 
that  the  pure  metal  might  remain.  And 
art  thou  to  claim  exemption  from  the 
same  discipline  ?  Art  thou  to  think  it 
strange,  concerning  these  same  fiery  tri- 


32  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMTSER. 

als  that  may  be  trying  tliee  ?  Rather  ex- 
ult in  them  as  thine  adoption-privilege. 
Envy  not  those  who  are  strangers  to  the 
refining  flames,  who  are  "  without  chas- 
tisement ; "  rather  surely  the  severest 
discipline,  with  a  Father^ s  love,  than  the 
fullest  earthly  cup,  without  that  Father's 
smile.  0,  for  grace  to  say,  when  the 
furnace  is  hottest  and  the  rod  sorest, 
"Even  so.  Father  J'  And  what,  after 
all,  is  the  severest  of  thy  chastisements, 
in  comparison  with  what  thy  sins  have 
deserved  ?  Dost  thou  murmur  under  a 
Father's  correcting  love  ?  What  would 
it  have  been  to  have  stood  the  wrath  of 
an  unpropitiated  Judge,  and  that  too 
forever  ?  Surely,  in  the  light  of  eter- 
nity, the  heaviest  pang  of  earth  is  in- 
deed a  "light  affliction." 


REUEMBER  THIS  WORD  ITNTO  THT  SERVANT,  UPON  WHICH  IHOC 
DAST  CAU'^ED  MK  TO  HOPE." 


THE    FAITHFUL    PROMISEE.  83 


16th  DAT. 

"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 
"  If  need  be."— 1  Peter,  i.  6. 

n   gr    VI'      *    Three  gracious  words. 

ClinHtonirai  sM  for  naught.  Not 
one  stroke  of  the  rod  unneeded,  or  that 
might  have  been  spared.  Thy  heavenly 
Father  loves  thee  too  much  and  too  ten- 
derly, to  bestow  harsher  correction  than 
thy  case  requires.  Is  it  loss  of  health 
or  loss  of  wealth,  or  loss  of  beloved 
fi'iends  ?  Be  still — there  was  a  need  he. 
We  are  no  judges  of  what  that  "  need 
be  "  is  ;  often  through  aching  hearts  we 
are  forced  to  exclaim,  "  Thy  judgments 
are  a  great  deep."  But  God  here  pledg- 
es himself,  that  there  will  not  be  one  re- 
dundant thorn  in  the  believer's  chaplet 
of  suffering.  No  burden  too  heavy  will 
be  laid  on  him,  and  no  sacrifice  too 
great  exacted /ro//i  him.  He  will  "  tem- 
per the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb."  When- 
3 


34  THE   FAITHFUL   PKOMISER. 

ever  the  "need  be"  has  accomplished 
its  end,  then  the  rod  is  removed,  the 
chastisement  suspended,  the  furnace 
quenched. 

"  If  need  be !  "  0,  what  a  pillow  on 
which  to  rest  thy  aching  head — that 
there  is  not  a  drop  in  all  thy  bitter  cup 
but  what  a  God  of  love  saw  to  be  abso- 
lutely necessary.  Wilt  thou  not  trust 
him,  even  though  thou  canst  not  trace 
the  mystery  of  his  dealings  ?  Not  too 
curiously  prying  into  the  "  why  it  is," 
or  "  how  it  is,"  but  satisfied  that  "  so  it 
is,"  and  therefore  that  all  must  be  well. 
"  Although  thou  sayest  thou  canst  not 
see  him,  yet  judgment  is  before  him ; 
therefore  trust  thou  in  him." 


THIS  WORD  UNTO  THT  SERVANT,  UPON  WHICH  THOO 
BSSt  CAUSED  MB  TO  HOPB." 


THE   FAITHFUL    PROMISER.  35 


"He  is  Faithful  tliat  Promised." 

"  A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  and  smoking  flax  shall 
he  not  quench." — Matt.  xii.  20. 

-»i  iL  i  ^ILL  Jesus  accept  sucli  a 
\h^W  1  ^^^^*  ^^  mine— this  erring, 
Ip  IDralt.  treacherous,  traitor  heart  ? 
The  past :  how  many  forgotten  vows, 
broken  covenants,  prayerless  days ! 
How  often  have  I  made  new  resolu- 
tions ;  and  as  often  as  the  reed  suc- 
cumbed to  the  first  blast  of  temptation, 
and  the  burning  flax  been  well-nigh 
quenched  by  guilty  omissions,  and  guil- 
tier commissions.  0,  my  soul,  thou  art 
low  indeed ;  the  things  that  remain 
seem  "  ready  to  die."  But  thy  Saviour 
God  will  not  give  thee  over  unto  death. 
The  reed  is  bruised  ;  but  He  will  not 
pluck  it  up  by  the  roots.  The  flax  is 
reduced  to  a  smoking  ember  ;  but  He 
will  fan  the  decaying  flame.  Why 
wound  thy  loving  Saviour's  heart  by 


36  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

these  repeated  declensions?  He  will 
not,  cannot  give  thee  up.  Go,  mourn 
thy  weakness  and  unbelief.  Cry  unto 
tlie  strong  for  strength.  Weary  and 
faint  one,  thou  hast  an  omnipotent  arm 
to  lean  on.  "  He  fainteth  not,  neither 
is  weary."  Listen  to  his  own  gracious 
assurance,  "  Fear  not ;  for  I  am  with 
thee.  Be  not  dismayed  ;  for  I  am  thy 
God.  I  will  strengthen  thee  ;  yea,  I  will 
help  thee  ;  yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with 
the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness." 
Leaving  all  thy  false  props  and  refuges, 
be  this  thy  resolve,  "  In  the  Lord  put  I 
my  trust ;  why  say  ye  to  my  soul.  Flee 
as  a  bird  to  your  mountain  ?  " 


»  KEMKMBER  THIS  WORD  UNTO  THT  SERVANT,  UPON  WHICH   THOD 
ttiSr  OACSSD  ME  TO  nOFfl. " 


THE    FAITHFUL   PROMISEE.  37 


18th  day 

**  He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"  Him  that  comelh  to  me,  I  will  in  nowiso  cast  out."— 
John  vi.  37. 

^  .,    "Cast    out!"      My 

tljttepDuhng.  ty^  t^^3  ^^3„  °^y 

history  ?  Thou  hast  cast  off  thy  God  ; 
might  he  not  oft  have  "  cast  out "  thee  ? 
Yes,  cast  thee  out  as  fuel  for  the  fire 
of  Lis  wrath  —  a  sapless,  fruitless  cum- 
berer.  And  yet,  notwithstanding  all 
thy  ungrateful  requital  for  his  unmerited 
forbearance,  he  is  still  declaring,  "  As  I 
live,  saith  the  Lord,  I  have  no  pleasure 
in  the  death  of  him  that  dieth."  Thy 
sins  may  be  legion-like  ;  the  sand  of 
the  sea  may  be  their  befitting  type  ;  the 
thought  of  their  turpitude  and  aggrava- 
tion may  be  ready  to  overwhelm  thee  ; 
but  be  still ;  thy  patient  God  waits  to 
be  gracious. 

0,  be  deeply  humbled  and  softened. 


38  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

because  of  tliy  guilt ;  resolve  to  dedi- 
cate thyself  anew  to  his  seryice  ;  and  so 
coming,  he  will  hy  no  means  cast  thee 
out.  Despond  not  by  reason  of  former 
shortcomings :  thy  sins  are  great,  but 
thy  Saviour's  merits  are  greater.  He 
is  willing  to  forget  all  the  past  and  sink 
it  in  oblivion,  if  there  be  present  love 
and  the  promise  of  future  obedience. 
•'  Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  mt  f  " 
Ah,  how  different  is  God's  verdict  from 
man's.  After  such  sins  as  thine,  man's 
sentence  would  have  been, "/  will  in  no- 
wise receive."  But  "  it  is  better  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  God,  than  into  tlie 
hands  of  man  ; "  for  he  says,  "  I  will  in 
nowise  cast  out." 


THIS  WORD   UNTO  THY  SERVANT,  UPON  WHICH   TilCr 
HAST  CAUSED  ME  TO  HOPK." 


THE    FAITHFUL   PROMISEE.  39 

19th   Dat. 
"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

'*  Peace  1  leave  with  you  ;  my  peace  I  give  unto  you  ;  not  as 
the  world  giveth." — John  xiv.  27. 

jjc  t  ut  ^g^^  peace  whose  mind  is 
fc)rlirnmg.  stayed  on  thee."  "Perfect 
peace  ;"  what  a  blessed  attainment.  My 
soul,  is  it  thine?  Sure  I  am  it  is  not,  if 
thou  art  seeking  it  in  a  perishable  world, 
or  in  the  perishable  creature,  or  in  thy 
perishable  self.  Although  thou  hast  all 
that  the  world  would  call  enviable  and 
happy,  unless  thou  hast  peace  in  God 
and  loitli  God,  all  else  is  unworthy  of 
the  name ;  a  spurious  thing,  which  the 
first  breath  of  adversity  will  shatter, 
and  the  hour  of  death  utterly  annihilate. 
Perfect  peace  ;  what  is  it  ?  It  is  the 
peace  of  forgiveness.  It  is  tlie  peace 
arising  out  of  a  sense  of  God  recon- 
ciled through  the  blood  of  the  everlast- 
ing covenant,  resting  sweetly  on  tlie 
bosom  and   the  work  of  Jesus,  to  him 


40  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

committing  thine  eternal  all.  My  soul, 
stay  thyself  on  God,  that  so  this  blessed 
peace  may  be  thine.  Thou  hast  tried 
the  world.  It  has  deceived  thee.  Prop 
after  prop  of  earthly  scaffolding  has 
yielded  and  tottered  and  fallen.  Has 
thy  God  ever  done  so  ?  Ah,  this  false 
and  counterfeit  world-peace  may  do 
well  for  the  world's  work,  and  the 
world's  day  of  prosperity.  But  test  it 
in  the  hour  of  sorrow  ;  and  what  can  it 
do  for  thee  when  most  it  is  needed  ? 
On  the  other  hand,  what  though  thou 
hast  no  other  blessing  on  earth  to  call 
thine  own  ?  Thou  art  rich  indeed,  if 
thou  canst  look  upwards  to  heaven,  and 
say,  with  " unpresumptuous  smile,"  "I 
am  at  peace  with  God." 

"  RKMBMBF.B    TniS    WOEI>    TJNTO    THY    SKRVANT,    UPOK 

wnion  THOU  ha,st  caused  mk  to  hope." 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE.  41 

20Tn  Day 
"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

'«  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord." — Rev.  xiv.  13. 

^|.  .  My  soul,  is  this  blessedness 
J^II5j  IE  ^i^jjjg  .^^  prospect?  Art  thou 
^^VH'  ready,  if  called  this  night  to 
lie  down  on  thy  death-pillow,  sweetly 
to  fall  asleep  in  Jesus !  What  is  the 
sting  of  death?  It  is  sin.  Is  death, 
then,  to  thee,  robbed  of  its  sting,  through 
your  haying  listened  to  the  gracious  ac- 
cents of  pardoning  love  ?  Be  of  good 
cheer  ;  thy  sins,  which  are  many,  are 
all  forgiven  thee.  If  thou  hast  made 
up  thy  peace  with  God,  resting  on  the 
work  and  atoning  blood  of  his  dear 
Son,  then  is  the  "  last  enemy"  divested 
of  all  hia  terror,  and  thou  canst  say,  in 
sweet  composure,  of  thy  dying  couch 
and  dying  hour,  "  I  will  both  lay  me 
down  in  peace  and  sleep,  because  thou, 
liOrd,  only  makest  me  dwell  in  safety." 
Reader !  ponder  that  solemn  question. 


42  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE. 

"  Am  I  ready  to  die  ?  Am  I  liviug  as 
I  should  wish  I  had  done  when  that 
last  hour  arrives?"  And  when  shall  it 
arrive?  To-morrow  is  not  thine.  Verily, 
there  may  be  but  a  step  between  theo 
and  death.  0,  solve  the  question  speedi- 
ly ;  risk  no  doubts  and  no  peradventure. 
Every  day  is  proclaiming  anew  the  les- 
son, "  The  race  is  not  to  the  swift,  nor 
the  battle  to  the  strong."  Seek  to  live 
so  that  that  hour  cannot  come  upon  thee 
too  soon  or  too  unexpectedly.  Live  a 
dying  life.  How  blessed  to  live,  how 
blessed  to  die,  with  the  consciousness 
that  there  may  be  but  a  step  between 
thee  and  glory. 

'*EEMEMBEB    THIS    WORD    UNTO    THY    SERVANT,    ITPON 
WHICH    TU01T    HAST    CAUSED    ME    TO    UOPB.'' 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER.  43 

""""""""""  21si  l)Ar 

"He  is  Faitliful  that  Promised." 

'  In  due  season  we  shall  reap,  if  we  faiut  not." — Gal.  vi.  9. 

^  «  Believer,  all  the  glory  of 
A  .t  III  |.^y  salvation  belongs  to 
ivPnpiIIg.  Jesus  — none  to  thyself; 
every  jewel  in  thine  eternal  crown  is 
his,  purchased  by  his  blood,  and  polish- 
ed by  his  Spirit.  The  confession  of 
time  will  be  the  ascription  of  all  eter- 
nity, "  By  the  grace  of  God,  I  am  what 
I  am."  But  though  all  be  of  grace, 
thy  God  calls  thee  to  personal  stren- 
uousness  in  the  work  of  thy  high  call- 
ing ;  to  "  labor,"  to  "  fight,"  to  "  wrestle," 
to  "  agonize  ;  "  and  the  heavenly  reaping 
will  be  in  proportion  to  the  earthly 
sowing.  "He  that  soweth  sparingly, 
shall  reap  also  sparingly ;  and  he  that 
soweth  bountifully,  shall  reap  also 
bountifully.  What  an  incentive  to  holy 
living  and  increased  spiritual  attain- 
ments.    My   soul,   wouldst   thou  b^  a 


44  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE. 

star  shining  high  and  bright  in  the  fir- 
mament of  glory — wouldst  thou  receive 
the  ten-talent  recompense  ?  Then,  be 
not  weary.  Gird  on  thine  armor  for 
fresh  conquests.  Be  gaining  daily  some 
new  victory  over  sin.  Deny  thyself. 
Be  a  willing  cross-bearer  for  thy  Lord's 
sake.  Do  good  to  all  men  as  thou  hast 
opportunity  ;  be  patient  under  provo- 
cation, slow  to  wrath,  resigned  in  trial. 
Let  the  world  take  knowledge  of  thee, 
that  thou  art  wearing  Christ's  livery, 
and  bearing  Christ's  Spirit,  and  sharing 
Christ's  cross.  And  when  the  reaping- 
time  comes.  He  who  has  promised  that 
the  cup  of  cold  water  shall  not  go  un- 
recompensed,  will  not  suffer  tliee  to  lose 
thy  reward. 

"  BEMEMBER  TH13  WORD  UNTO  THY  SERVANT,    UTON   WHIOH 
XHOU  HAST  CAirSKD   ME  TO  HOPE.' 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER.  45 

Wd  Day. 

•  He  is  faithful  that  Promised." 
Tlio  days  ot  thy  mouruing  shall  be  ended."— Isaiah  ix.  20. 

^rT(FTTirnf     ^™ST's    people    are    a 

Wmk!      ^''P^°^     ^^^^'    *^^^"^'^ 

lovely  world  to  make  them  joyous  and 
happy.  Yet  when  they  think  of  sin, 
their  own  sin  and  the  unblushing  sins 
of  a  world  in  which  their  God  is  dis- 
honored, need  we  wonder  at  their  tears 
— that  they  should  be  called  "  mourn- 
ers," and  their  pilgrimage-home  a 
"  valley  of  tears  "  ?  Bereavement,  and 
sickness,  and  poverty,  and  death,  follow- 
ing the  track  of  sin,  add  to  their  mourn- 
ing experience  ;  and  with  many  of  God^s 
best  beloved,  one  tear  is  scarce  dried, 
when  another  is  ready  to  flow.  Mourn- 
ers rejoice.  When  the  reaping  time 
comes,  the  weeping  time  ends.  When 
the  white  robe  and  the  golden  harp  are 
bestowed,  every  remnaut  of  the  sack- 


46  THE  FAITHFUL    PROMISEE. 

cloth  attire  is  removed.  The  moment 
the  pilgrim  whose  forehead  is  here  fur- 
rowed with  woe,  bathes  it  in  the  crystal 
river  of  life,  that  moment  the  pangs  of 
a  lifetime  of  sorrow  are  eternally  for- 
gotten. 

Reader  !  if  thou  art  one  of  these  care- 
worn ones,  the  days  of  thy  mourning  are 
numbered.  A  few  more  throbbings  of 
this  achiog  heart,  and  then  the  angel 
who  proclaims  "  time  to  be  no  longer." 
shall  proclaim  also  sorrow,  and  sighing, 
and  mourning  to  be  ended.  Seek  now 
to  mourn  thy  sins  more  than  thy  sor- 
rows ;  reserve  thy  bitterest  tears  for 
forgetfulness  of  thy  dear  Lord.  The 
saddest  and  sorest  of  all  bereavements 
is  when  the  sins  which  have  separated 
thee  from  Him  evoke  the  anguish-cry, 
"Where  is  my  God?'' 

♦*  BEMEUBEK  THIS  WORD    UNTO  THY  SERVANT,   UPON   WHICB 
THOU  HAST  CAUSED  ME  TO  HOPE." 


THE    FAITHFUL   PROMI&ER.  47 


%   §T^jttV{ 


23d  Dai 
"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 
«  Behold,  I  come  quickly."— Rev.  iii.  IL 

Even  so  ;   come,  Lord  Je- 
..      -    oiis."     Why  tarry  the  wheels 
Cammg,     ^^  ^i^^  chariot?     Six  thou- 
sand years  this  world  has  rolled  on, 
getting  hoary  with  age  and  wrinkled 
with   sins    and    sorrows.      A   waiting 
church  sees  the  long-drawn  shadows  of 
twilight  announcing,  "  The  Lord  is  at 
hand."    Prepare,  my  soul,  to  meet  him. 
Oh !    happy  days,  when  thine  adorable 
Redeemer,  so  long  dishonored  and  des- 
pised, shall  be  publicly   enthroned   in 
presence    of    an    assembled    universe, 
crowned  Lord  of  all,  glorified  in  his 
saints,  satisfied  in  the  fruits  of  his  soul's 
travail,  destroying  his  enemies  with  the 
brightness  of  his  coming — the  lightning- 
glance  of  his  wrath  ;  causing  the  hearts 
of  his  exulting  people  to  "  rejoice  with 
joy  unspeakable,  and   full   of  glory." 


48  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

Prepare,  my  soul,  to  meet  him.  Let  it 
be  a  joyous  thought  to  thee,  thy  "  bless- 
ed hope,"  this  meeting  with  thine  elder 
Brother.  Stand  oftentimes  on  the 
watch-tower,  to  catch  the  first  streak  of 
that  coming  brightness,  the  first  mur- 
mur of  these  chariot  wheels.  The  world 
is  now  in  preparation.  It  is  rocking 
on  its  worn-out  axle.  There  are  voice:? 
on  every  side  proclaiming,  "  He  cometh, 
he  cometh  to  judge  the  earth."  Reader ! 
art  thou  among  the  number  of  those 
who  "  love  his  appearing"  ?  Hemember 
the  attitude  of  his  expectant  saints. 
"Blessed  are  those  servants  whom  their 
Lord,  when  he  cometh,  shall  find  watch- 


"  BSHK&tBBR  THIS  WORD  UNTO  THY  SERVANT,  UPON  TTHIOH    TROT 
OAST  CAUSED  MB  TO  HOPE," 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER.  49 


24tu  Dat. 

"He  is  Faitliful  that  Promised." 

«  Wliat  I  do,  thou  knowest  not  now  ;  but  thou  shalt  know 
hereafter." — John  xviii.  7 

^         .         As  tlie  natural  sun  some- 

l^pnnrnm     ^.^^g  g-^j^g  ^^  clouds,  so 

Slltimtliatinn.  occasionally  the  Chris- 
tian  who  has  a  bright  rising,  and  a 
brighter  meridian,  sets  in  gloom.  It  is 
not  ahuays  "  light "  at  his  evening-time ; 
but  this  we  know,  that  when  the  day  of 
immortality  breaks,  the  last  vestige  of 
earth's  shadows  will  forever  flee  away. 
To  the  closing  hour  of  time,  providence 
may  be  to  him  a  baffling  enigma  ;  but 
ere  the  first  hour  has  struck  on  heaven's 
chronometer,  all  will  be  clear.  My 
soul,  in  God's  light  thou  shalt  see  light 
The  book  of  his  decrees  is  a  sealed  book 
now  ;  "A  great  deep,"  is  all  the  explan- 
ation thou  canst  often  give  of  his  judg- 
ments ;  the  tvhy  and  the  wherefore  he 
seems  to  keep  from  us,  to  test  our  faith, 
4 


50     THE  FAITHFUL  PROMfSER. 

to  discipline  us  in  trustful  submission, 
and  lead  us  to  say,  "  Thy  will  be  done." 
But  rejoice  in  that  hereafter-light  which 
awaits  thee.  Now  we  see  through  a 
glass  darkly  ;  but  then,  face  to  face.  In 
the  great  mirror  of  eternity  all  the 
events  of  this  checkered  scene  will  be 
reflected  ;  the  darkest  of  them  will  then 
be  seen  to  be  bright  with  mercy — the 
severest  dispensations,  "  only  the  severer 
aspects  of  his  love."  Pry  not,  then,  too 
curiously  ;  pronounce  not  too  censori- 
ously on  God's  dealings  with  thee. 
Wait  with  patience  till  the  grand  day 
of  disclosures  ;  one  confession  shall  then 
burst  from  every  tongue,  "Righteous 
art  thou,  0  Lord." 


•'BSMEMBEB    this    word    TTNTO    thy    3BE7ANT,    ppoa 
WHICH    THOTT    HAST    OAXJSBD    MB    TO    HOPS." 


THE    FAITHFUL    PROMISEE.  51 


25m  DAT 
"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"  [  will  come  again,  and  receive  j'ou  unto  myself,  that 
where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also." — John  xiv.  3. 

.  .  If  the  meeting  of  a  long 
1  ^(!0lDrintt3  j^^3ggj^^  fj,|g^^  or  brother 
txruntOIl,  0^  g^j.^l^  l3(3  a  joyous 
event,  what,  my  soul,  must  be  the  joy 
of  thy  union  with  this  Brother  of  broth- 
ers, this  Friend  of  friends?  "I  will 
come  again."  Oh !  what  an  errand  of 
love,  what  a  promised  honor  and  dig- 
nity is  this !  His  saints  are  to  share, 
not  his  heaven  only,  but  his  immediate 
presence.  "  Where  /  am,  there  ye  shall 
be  also."  "  Father,  I  loill  " — it  was  his 
dying  wish,  a  wondrous  codicil  in  tliat 
testamentary  prayer — "that  those  whom 
thou  hast  given  me,  be  with  me  where  I 
amy  Happy  reunion!  Blessed  Sa- 
viour, if  thy  presence  be  so  sweet  on  a 
sin-stricken  earth,  and  when  known  only 
by  the  invisible  eye  of  faith,  what  must 


52  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

be  that  presence  in  a  sinless  heaven,  un- 
folded in  aU  its  unutterable  loveliness 
and  glory  ?  Happy  reunion  !  It  will 
bo  a  meeting  of  the  whole  ransomed 
family  :  the  Head,  with  all  its  members ; 
the  Vine,  with  all  its  branches ;  the 
Shepherd,  with  all  his  flock  ;  the  elder 
Brother,  with  all  his  kinsmen.  Oh  I  the 
joy,  too,  of  mutual  recognition  among 
the  death-divided  ;  ties  snapt  asunder 
on  earth  indissolubly  renewed  ;  severed 
friendships  reunited ;  the  triumph  of 
love  complete  ;  love  binding  brother 
with  brother,  and  friend  with  friend, 
and  all  to  the  Elder  Brother.  My  soul, 
what  thinkest  thou  of  this  heaven? 
Remember  who  it  is  that  Jesus  says 
shall  sit  with  him  upon  his  throne— 
"  Him  that  overcometh." 


"  ftEUEMBEa  THLt  -word  unto  thy  servant,  upon  wmcn  tdoo 

OAST  CAUSED  ME  TO  HOPE." 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER,  53 


"He  is  faithful  that  Promised." 
"  And  I  will  betroth  thee  unto  me  forever." — Hosea  ii.  19. 

^      ,    ,.        How  wondrous  and  va- 

enrrlnstrng  ^.^^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^.j^.^^^ 

(fcSpnilSniS.  jgg^^g  employs  to  express 
the  tenderness  of  his  covenant  love. 
My  soul,  thy  Saviour  God  hath  "  mar- 
ried thee."  Wouldst  thou  know  the 
hour  of  thy  betrothment  ?  Go  back 
into  the  depths  of  a  past  eternity,  before 
the  world  was  ;  then  and  there  thine 
espousals  were  contracted :  "  I  have 
loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love." 
Soon  shall  the  bridal  hour  arrive,  when 
thine  absent  Lord  shall  come  to  wel- 
come his  betrothed  bride  into  his  royal 
palace.  "  The  bridegroom  tarrieth  ;" 
but  see  that  thou  dost  not  slumber  and 
sleep.  Surely  there  is  much  all  around 
demanding  the  girded  loins  and  the 
burning  lamps.  At  •'  midnight,"  the  hour 
when  he  is  least  expected,  the  cry  may 


54  THE    FAITHFUL   PROMISEE. 

be,  it  shall  be  heard,  "  Behold,  the  bride- 
groom Cometh  !"  My  soul,  has  this  mys- 
tic union  been  formed  between  thee  and 
tliy  Lord?  Canst  thou  say,  in  humble 
assurance  of  thine  affiance  with  Him, 
"  my  Beloved  is  mine,  and  I  am  his  ''  ? 
If  so,  great,  unspeakably  great  are  the 
glories  which  await  thee.  Thy  dowry 
as  the  bride  of  Christ  is  all  that  omnip- 
otence can  bestow,  and  all  that  a  feeble 
creature  can  receive.  In  the  prospect 
of  those  glorious  nuptials,  thou  needst 
dread  no  pang  of  widowhood.  What 
God  hath  joined  together,  no  created 
power  can  take  asunder  ;  He  betroths 
thee,  and  it  is  "  forever." 


BRMEMBER    THIS    WORD    UNTO    THY     SERVANT,     UPOIf 
"WniOH    TUOU    HAST    CAUSED     MK    TO    HOrE." 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER.  55 

27th  I>at. 

"He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"This  corruptible  must  put  on  iacorruptioD." — 1  Cor.  xv.  53 

_  ^  ri  MARVELof marvels!  the 
%  jnral  sleeping  ashes  of  the  sep- 
fxmmilmu.  .Icher  starting  at  the 
tones  of  the  arcliangel's  trumpet ;  the 
dishonored  dust  rising  a  glorified  body, 
like  its  risen  Lord's.  At  death,  the 
soul's  bliss  is  perfect  in  kind  ;  but  that 
bliss  is  not  complete  in  degree,  until  re- 
united to  the  tabernacle  it  has  left  be- 
hind to  mingle  with  the  sods  of  the  val- 
ley. But  tread  lightly  on  that  grave  ; 
it  contains  precious  because  ransomed 
dust.  My  body  as  well  as  my  spirit 
was  included  in  the  redemption-price  of 
Calvary,  and  "  them  also  which  sleep  in 
Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him."  Oh  I 
blessed  jubilee-day  of  creation,  when 
Christ's  " dead  men  shall  arise;"  when, 
together  with  his  dead  body,  they  shall 
come,   and   the   summons   shall    sound 


56  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

fortli,  "  Awake  and  sing,  ye  that  dwell 
in  the  dust !"  All  the  joys  of  that  resur- 
rection morn  we  cannot  tell,  but  its 
chief  glory  we  do  know  :  "  When  he 
shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  him  ;  for 
we  shall  see  him  as  he  is."  Like  him ! 
My  soul,  art  thou  waiting  for  this  man- 
ifestation of  the  sons  of  God  ?  Like 
him !  Hast  thou  caught  up  any  faint 
resemblance  to  that  all-glorious  image  ? 
Having  this  hope  in  thee,  art  thou  puri- 
fying thyself  even  as  he  is  pure?  Be 
much  with  Jesus  now,  that  thou  mayest 
exult  in  meeting  him  hereafter.  Thus 
taking  him  as  thy  guide  and  portion  in 
life,  thou  mayest  lay  thee  down  in  thy 
dark  and  noisome  cell,  and  look  for- 
ward with  triumphant  hope  to  the  dawn 
of  a  resurrection  morn,  saying,  When  ] 
awake,  I  am  still  with  thee. 


'*  KBUBMBER  THIS   WORD   UNTO  THY  SERVANT,  UPON  WHICH  TBOV 
HAST  CAUSKD  HE  TO  HOPE." 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROPOSER.  67 


28th  Day. 
"  He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

''•  There  shall  be  no  night  there."— Rev.  xxi.  25. 

a>5^.  I ,,  My  soul,  is  it  nifflit  with 
-fs!j«^53  thee  he;e?  Art  thou 
mmiU,  wearied  with  these  mid- 
night  tossings  on  life's  tumultuous  sea  ? 
Be  still ;  the  day  is  breaking  ;  soon 
shall  thy  Lord  appear.  "  His  going 
forth  is  prepared  as  the  morning."  That 
glorious  appearing  shall  disperse  every 
cloud,  and  usher  in  an  eternal  noontide 
which  knows  no  twilight.  "  Thy  sun 
shall  no  more  go  down,  neither  shall  thy 
moon  withdraw  itself ;  for  the  Lord  shall 
be  thine  everlasting  light."  Everlasting 
light !  Wondrous  secret  of  a  nightless 
world  ;  the  glories  of  a  present  God  ;  the 
everlasting  light  of  the  Three  in  One, 
quenching  the  radiance  of  all  created 
orbs,  superseding  all  material  luminaries. 
"  My  soul  waiteth  for  the  Lord  more 
than  they  that  watch  for  the  morning." 


58  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE. 

The  haven  is  Hearing  ;  star  after  staria 
quencl'.ed  in  more  glorious  effulgence  ; 
every  bound  over  these  dark  waves  is 
bringing  thee  nearer  the  eternal  shore. 
Wilt  thou  not,  then,  humbly  and  patient- 
ly endure  weeping  for  the  night,  in  the 
prospect  of  the  joy  that  cometh  in  the 
morning  ?  Strange  realities  :  a  world 
without  night,  a  firmament  without  a 
sun  ;  and,  greater  wonder  still,  thyself 
in  this  world,  a  joyful  denizen  of  this 
nightless,  sinless,  sorrowless,  tearless 
heaven,  basking  underneath  the  Foun- 
tain of  uncreated  light !  No  exhaustion 
of  glorified  body  and  spirit  to  require 
repose  ;  no  lassitude  or  weariness  to 
suspend  the  ever-deepening  song,  "  They 
rest  %oty 

•'  aKUKinSER   Tins   WORD   UNTO  THY  SERVANT      CPON     VflMM 
THOU    HAST  CAUSED   MK  TO    HOPK  " 


THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER.  59 


29th  Bay. 

"  He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"  Wlien  (he  chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  ye  shall  receive  a 
crowu  of  glory  thatfadeth  uotaway." — 1  Peter  v.  4. 

^    ^  r     What,  is   the  beggar  to 

^1    ifp.  Til  -  • 

-^^  lull,  set   among   princes, 

and  made  to  inherit  a  throne  of  glory  ? 
Is  dust  and  ashes,  a  puny  rebel,  a  guilty 
traitor,  to  be  pitied,  pardoned,  loved, 
exalted  from  the  depths  of  despair, 
raised  to  the  heights  of  heaven,  gifted 
with  kingly  honor,  royally  fed,  royally 
clothed,  royally  attended,  and  at  last 
royally  crowned?  0,  my  soul,  look 
forward  with  joyous  emotion  to  that 
day  of  wonders,  when  He  whose  head 
shall  be  crowned  with  many  crowns 
shall  be  the  dispenser  of  royal  diadems 
to  his  people  ;  and  when  they  shall  be- 
gin the  joyful  ascription  of  all  eternity, 
'•  Unto  Him  that  loved  us  and  washed 
us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood,"  and 


60  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISEE. 

has  "  made  us  kings" — "  to  him  be  glory 
aiid  dominion  forever  and  ever.  Amen." 
"Wilt  thou  be  among  the  number  ?  Shall 
the  princes  and  monarchs  of  the  earth 
wade  through  seas  of  blood  for  a  cor- 
ruptible crown ;  and  wilt  thou  permit 
thyself  to  lose  the  incorruptible,  or 
barter  it  for  some  perishable  nothings 
of  earth  ?  0,  that  thou  wouldst  awake 
to  thy  high  destiny,  and  live  up  to  thy 
transcendent  privileges  as  the  citizen 
of  a  kingly  commonwealth,  a  member 
of  the  blood-royal  of  heaven.  What 
wouldst  thou  not  sacrifice,  what  effort 
wouldst  thou  grudge,  if  thou  wert  in- 
cluded at  last  in  the  gracious  benedic- 
tion, "  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father  ; 
inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world  ?" 


lEMBEK    THIS     WOPwD    UNTO    THY    SERTANT,    UPON 
WniOlI    TUOU    HAST    CAUSED    ME   TO    HOPE." 


TUE    FAITHFUL   PROMISEE.  61 


SOth  Dat. 

"  He  is  Faithful  that  Promised." 

"  God  himself  shall  be  with  them,  and  be  their  God.  And 
God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes  ;  and  there 
shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither 
Bhall  there  be  any  more  pain  ;  for  the  former  things  are 
passc-dawa^." — Rev.  xxi.  3,  4. 

^.,    ..^.  .         V   Glorious     consumma. 

Mtmnlm.  glories  of  heaven  are 
but  emanations  from  this  giory  that  ex- 
celleth.  Here  is  the  focus  and  centre  in 
which  every  ray  of  light  converges. 
God  is  "  all  in  all."  Heaven  tvithoiit 
God  I  it  would  send  a  thrill  of  dismay 
through  the  burning  ranks  of  angels 
and  archangels  ;  it  would  dim  every  eye, 
and  hush  every  harp,  and  change  the 
whitest  robe  into  sackcloth.  And  shall 
T  then  indeed  "  see  God''  ?  What,  shall 
I  gaze  on  these  inscrutable  glories,  and 
live  ?  Yes,  God  himself  shall  be  with 
them,  and  be  their  God  ;  they  shall  see 
hi^face.     And  not  only  tlie  vision  but 


62  THE   FAITHFUL   PROMISER. 

the  fruition.  0,  how  does  sin  in  my 
holiest  moments  damp  the  enjoyment 
of  Him.  It  is  the  "  pure  in  heart"  alone 
who  can  "  see,"  far  more,  who  can  en- 
joy God.  Even  if  he  did  reveal  him- 
self noiv,  these  eyes  could  never  endure 
his  intolerable  brightness.  But  then, 
with  a  heart  pui^ified  from  corruption,  a 
world  where  the  taint  of  sin  and  the 
power  of  temptation  never  enters — the 
soul  again  a  bright  mirror,  reflecting 
the  lost  image  of  the  Godhead  ;  all  the 
affections  devoted  to  their  original  high 
destiny ;  the  love  of  God  the  motive 
principle,  the  ruling  passion  ;  the  glory 
of  God  the  undivided  object  and  aim  ; 
the  will  no  opposing  or  antagonist  bias 
— man  will,  for  the  first  time,  know  all 
the  blessedness  of  his  chief  end,  "  to 
glorify  God,  and  to  enjoy  him  forever." 

'<  REMEHBER  THIS  "WORD  UNTO  THY  SERVANT,  UPON  WHICU   XnOU 
HAST  CAUSED  ME  TO  HOPE  " 


ALL 

S^§c  Iromists  of  (iot) 

|n  |im  m  %m, 

AND 


THE 


MORNING  WATCHES 


NIGHT  WATCHES. 


BY  THE 


REV.  J.  R.  MACDUFF,  D.  D., 

&DTUOR  OF   "THB    MIND    AND  WORDS    OF    JKSTTS,"   "FAITHFUI 

PEOM18B8,"   "•  FOOTSTEPS  OF  ST.  PAtTL,"   "  BOW  IN 

THE  CLOUD,"   "family   PRAYBK8,"   KTC. 


NEW  YORK : 
ROBERT  GARTER  &  BROTHERS, 

No.    530    BROADWAY. 
1871. 


€^t  3linrntng  H)tttrI]M. 


'in IS  little  volume  is  designed  to  Ibrm,  by  the  Divinn 
bhssing,  an  humble  auxiliary  in  promoting,  what  is 
pTonounced  in  the  best  of  all  manuals  of  devotion  to 
be  "  a  good  thing," — the  shewing  forth  of  God's 
"loving-kindness  in  the  moming,^^  and  His  '"faith- 
fulness even/  niylit.''^  (Ps,  xcii.  2.) 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  remark,  regarding 
the  verse  which  forms  the  key-note  to  each  petition 
— "  0.  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee" — that  the  word  "direct,"  in  the  original 
Hebrew,  may  literally  be  rendered,  "  set  in  order." 
It  refers  to  the  setting  in  order  of  the  wood  for  the 
burnt-sacrifices  in  the  temple  of  old.  While  the  heart 
of  the  believer,  according  to  this  beautiful  allusion, 
is  represented  as  a  spiritual  altar,  on  which,  morning 
after  morning,  he  offers  the  oblation  of  prayer,  this 
motto-verse  may  also  serve  as  a  magnet  to  keep  the 
eye  fixed,  in  each  successive  petition,  on  the  great 
Antitypicai  Sacrifice,  through  whom  alone  it  is  that 
"the  words  of  our  mouth  and  the  meditation  of  our 
hearts"  are  "acceptable  "  in  the  sight  of  God. 

Though  more  strictly  designed  for  private  devo- 
tion, and  therefore  expressed  in  the  first  person,  it 
is  hoped,  by  the  substitution  of  the  plural  pronoun, 
that  the  fohowing  pages  may  not  be  inappropriate 
for  the  family  altar. 

December  25,  1851. 

(8) 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 


1st  Morning. 
"0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  For  Thy  name's  sake,  0  Lord,  pardon  mine  iniquity  ;  for 
it  is  great." — Ps.  xxv.  11. 

<c  j\  \  ^  God,  I  bless  Thee  that 
.i^nr  Jcjirflnn  r^j^^^^  ^^^^^  permitted  me 
^lU.  ^^  |-g  (Jq^jj  jjj  sleep,  and 
to  awake  this  morning  in  safety.  Thou 
hast  dispersed  the  darkness  of  another 
night:  may  no  shadow  of  sin  obscure 
the  sunshine  of  thy  favour  and  love. 
May  the  returning  light  of  day  be  to  me 
the  type  and  emblem  of  that  better  radi- 
ance with  which  thou  visitest  the  souls 
of  Thy  people,  when  they  are  enabled, 
in  Jesus,  to  behold  a  pardoning  God 
seated  on  a  throne  of  reconciliation  and 
grace. 

1  come  to  Thee,  acknowledging  my 
transgressions  in  all  their  heinousness. 
I  have  nothing  to  plead  in  extenuation. 
Warnings  have  been  abused,  providen- 
ces slighted,  grace  resisted,  Thy  Spirit 


6  THE    MORNING   WATCHES. 

grieved.  It  is  of  the  Lord's  mercies  1 
am  not  consumed — that  Thou  hast  not 
long  ere  now  consigned  me,  with  all 
this  load  of  unpardoned  guilt,  to  that 
place  where  pardon  is  unknown. 

But  I  do  rejoice  to  know  that  "  there 
is  forgiveness  with  Thee,  that  Thou 
mayest  be  feared" — that  I  can  bring 
my  great  sin  to  a  great  Saviour.  May 
I  be  enabled  to  feel  that  this  all-glorious 
name  of  a  reconciled  God  in  Christ  is 
"  a  strong  tower,"  into  which  I  may 
"  run,  and  be  safe."  Give  me  grace,  in 
self-renouncing  lowliness,  to  disown 
every  other  ground  of  confidence  or 
hope  of  mercy,  and  to  cast  myself,  a 
broken-hearted,  humbled  penitent,  at  the 
feet  of  Him  on  whom  was  laid  the  bur- 
den of  all  my  transgressions.  May 
mine  henceforth  be  the  blessedness  of 
those  whose  '''  iniquities  are  forgiven, 
and  whose  sins  are  covered."  ,  May 
life's  joys  be  sweetened,  and  life's"  sor- 
rows sanctified,  and  life's  terminating 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  7 

hour  gladdened,  with  the  assurance,  "  I 
am  at  peace  with  my  God.')  May  Thy 
favour  brighten  every  scene,  and  the 
Bweet  sense  of  thy  reconciling  love  be 
interfused  with  all  my  occupations.  If 
sorrow  should  cloud  or  darken,  may  1 
be  brought  to  feel  that  there  can  be  no 
true  sorrow  or  disquietude  to  the  soul 
which  has  found  its  rest  in  the  finished 
work  of  Jesus,  and  which  has  attained 
that  blessed 'peace  here  which  is  the 
prelude  of  glory  hereafter. 

Give  me  grace  to  walk  more  closely 
with  Thee  in  the  time  to  come.  Being 
forgiven  much,  may  I  love  Thee  all  the 
more.  May  my  life  be  one  habitual 
effort  of  self  and  sin  crucifixion,  seeking 
to  consecrate  my  soul's  best  energies  to 
Ilim  who  is  willing  to  "  blot  out  as  a 
thick  cloud "  all  my  transgressions. 
Overrule  the  discipline  of  Thy  provi- 
dence for  promoting  within  me  this 
death  of  sin,  and  this  life  of  righteous- 
ness.   (Amid    earth's  manifold  disquie- 


«  THE    MORNING    WATCHES. 

tudes,  its  crosses  and  its  losses,  enable 
me  with  joy  to  look  forward  to  that 
blessed  hour  when  there  shall  be  no 
more  sin,  and  therefore  no  more  sorrow) 
— when  every  tear  shall  be  wiped  from 
every  eye,  and  when  I  shall  be  permit- 
ted to  know  all  that  is  comprehended 
in  the  holy  beatitude,  how  "  blessed " 
indeed  are  "  the  pure  in  heart, "  who 
are  to  "see  God.  " 

Direct,  control,  suggest,  this  day,  all 
my  designs  and  thoughts  and  actions, 
that  every  power  of  my  body,  and  ev- 
ery faculty  of  my  mind  may  unite  in 
devotedness  to  Thy  sole  service  and 
glory.  And  all  I  ask  is  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Amen. 

"  CAUSE  ME  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING-  KINDNESS  IN    THE  MORNING,  POH 
IN  THEE  BO  I  TRUST." 


THE   MORNING    WATOHES. 


2d  Morning, 


"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
untiThee." 

•'Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  0  God,  and  renew  a  right 
spirit  within  me." — Ps.  li.  10. 

^     ^.  ,  Almighty  God,  who  hast 

•^D^.|™^Uercifully  preserved  me 
nt  JPHn.  during  the  unconscious 
hours  of  slumber,  I  desire  to  dedicate 
my  waking  moments  and  thoughts  to 
Thee.  Do  Thou  pre-occupy  my  mind 
with  hallowed  and  heavenly  things. 
May  I  be  enabled  throughout  this  day, 
by  the  help  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  to  ex- 
clude all  that  is  vain  and  frivolous  and 
sinful,  and  to  have  my  affections  cen- 
tred on  Thee,  as  my  best  portion  and 
chiefest  joy.  As  Thy  Spirit  of  old  did 
brood  over  the  face  of  the  waters,  may 
that  same  blessed  Spirit  descend  in  all 
the  plenitude  of  His  heavenly  graces, 
that  the  gloom  of  a  deeper  moral  chaos 
may  be  dispersed,  and  that  mine  may 
be  the  beauty  and  happiness  and  glad- 


10  THE   MORNING    WATCHES. 

aess  of  a  soul  that  lias  been  transformed 
"from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the 
power  of  sin  and  Satan  mi  to  God." 

Forbid,  blessed  Lord !  that  I  should 
be  resting  in  anything  short  of  this  new 
creation.  May  my  old  nature  be  cru- 
cified ;  and,  as  one  alive  from  the  dead, 
may  I  "  walk  with  Jesus  in  newness  of 
life."  May  the  new  life  infused  by  Thy 
Spirit  urge  me  to  higher  attainments 
and  more  heavenly  aspirations.  May  1 
be  enabled  to  see  the  world  in  its  true 
light — its  pleasures  fading,  its  hopes  de- 
lusive, its  friendships  perishable.  May 
I  be  more  solemnly  and  habitually  im- 
pressed by  the  surpassing  magnitude  of 
"the  things  not  seen."  May  I  give 
evidence  of  the  reality  of  a  renewal  of 
heart  by  a  more  entire  and  consistenl 
dedication  of  tlie  life.  ( May  my  soul 
become  a  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost ; 
may  "  Holiness  to  the  Lord "  be  its 
superscription.  May  I  be  led  to  feel 
thut  there  can  be  no  true  joy  but  what 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  11 

emanates  from  Thyself  the  fountain  and 
fulness  of  all  joy — the  God  in  whom 
"  all  my  well-springs  "  are. 

Whatever  may  be  the  discipline  Thou 
art  employing  for  this  inward  heart- 
transformation,  let  me  be  willing  to  sub- 
mit to  it.  Let  me  lie  passive  in  the 
arms  of  Thy  mercy,  saying,  "  Under- 
take Thou  for  me."  May  it  be  mine  to 
bear  all,  and  endure  all,  and  rejoice  in 
all — adoring  a  Father's  hand,  and  trust- 
ing a  Father's  faithfulness — feeling  se- 
cure in  a  Father's  tried  love. 

Blessed  Jesus !  anew  would  I  wash  in 
the  opened  Fountain.  The  new  heart, 
like  every  holy  blessing  I  can  ask,  is 
the  purchase  of  that  blood  which  Thou 
didst  so  freely  shed.  May  it  be  sprin- 
kled on  my  guilty  conscience.  May  I 
know  ever  what  it  is  to  be  living  on 
a  living  Saviour,  bringing  all-emptiness 
to  all-fulness—  the  unworthiness  of  infi- 
nite demerit  to  the  worthiness  of  all-suf 
ficient,  all-abounding,  grace  and  mercy. 


12  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

Do  Thou  shine  upon  my  ways.  May 
I  this  day  get  nearer  heaven.  May  I 
feel  at  its  close  that  1  have  done  some- 
thing for  God — something  to  promote 
the  great  end  for  which  existence  was 
given  me — the  glory  of  Thy  holy  name. 
Bless  all  my  beloved  friends.  Unite  us 
together  in  bonds  of  holy  fellowship 
here  ;  and  at  last,  in  Thy  presence,  may 
we  be  permitted  to  drink  together  of  the 
streams  of  everlasting  love.  And  all  \ 
ask  is  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


'  (UTJ3K  ME  TO  HEAR  THY  L0\nNG-KINDNlS8  IK 
HOKMNG,   FOB   IN  THEE   DO  I  TRCBBf.  ' 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  13 


3d  MORNIXa 

*'  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayei 
unto  Thee." 

"  I  am  the  Lord  that  doth  sanctify  you." — Exod.  xxxi.  13. 

^  ^  ,.r  Most  blessed  God,  Thou 
^Dr  S^aiinill!-  j^^g^  permitted  me  in  Thy 
ing  di^rnre.  ^^^^^  goodness  to  see  the 
light  of  another  day.  May  I  be  enabled 
to  receive  every  returning  morning  as  a 
fresh  token  of  Thy  love — a  renewal  of 
my  lease  of  existence — a  fresh  grant  of 
mercy  from  the  Author  of  all  being. 
May  I  seek,  this  day,  and  every  day,  to 
consecrate  the  life  spared  by  Thy  boun- 
ty more  and  more  to  Thy  praise. 

Lord,  1  come  anew  with  my  burden 
of  sin.  It  is  Thy  marvellous  forbear- 
ance that  does  not  make  every  succeed- 
ing morning  my  last.  I  bless  Thee  that 
tliere  is  still  the  cleansing  blood,  the 
"  Wonderful  Counsellor,"  the  all-gra- 
cious Spirit.  Give  me  to  know,  ere  I 
go  forth  into  the  world,  what  it  is  to 


14  THE    MORNING   WATCHES. 

have  tlie  sense  of  Thy  reconciled  love. 
Whether  in  public  or  in  private,  in  the 
intercourse  of  life  or  in  the  seclusion  of 
^olitude,  may  I  realise  Thy  presence. 
'  May  it  be  to  me  the  sweetest  and  most 
blessed  of  all  thoughts,  that  a  covenant 
God  is  "  compassing  my  path  " — that  by 
Him  I  am  defended,  guided,  supported, 
— safe!. 

Heavenly  Father,  it  is  the  unholiness 
of  my  heart  which  mars  the  joys  of  my 
communion  with  Thee.  It  is  my  espe- 
cial prayer  that  Thou  mayest  impart 
largely  to  me  of  the  sanctifying  influ- 
ences of  Thy  grace  and  Spirit.  Let  sin 
be  crucified  more  and  more.  Let  self 
be  subjugated  more  and  more.  Under 
the  transforming  power  of  new  affec- 
tions, may  God  become  all  in  all.  May 
it  be  mine  to  know,  in  growing  experi- 
ence, tlie  happiness  of  true  holiness. 
May  I  jealously  avoid  all  that  is  likely 
to  estrange  me  from  Thee,  and  zealously 
cultivate  all  that  is  calculated  to  draw 


THE   MORNTNG    WA^TCHES.  15 

me  nearer  towards  Thee.  "  Thy  favour 
is  life " — 0  shew  me  that  to  lose  Thy 
favour  is  death  indeed  1 

This  blessed  work  of  inward  sanctiii- 
cation  is  Thine.  Alas !  I  feel  my  con- 
stant proneness  to  wander  from  Thee, 
and  to  seek  my  happiness  in  the  perish- 
able. My  best  resolutions,  how  frail ! — 
my  warmest  affections,  how  languid  and 
lukewarm! — my  holiest  moments,  how 
distracted  with  vain  thoughts  and  world- 
ly cares !— my  whole  life,  how  stained  with 
sin  !  But  do  Thou  strengthen  me  with 
all  might  by  Thy  Spirit,  in  the  inner 
man.  My  daily  cry  would  be,  "  More 
grace  !  More  grace !  "  There  is  no  suf- 
ficiency in  myself;  but  has  Thou  not 
promised  to  make  Thy  grace  sufficient  ? 
May  I  make  it  my  grand  ambition  to  be 
marking,  day  by  day,  my  Zionward  pro- 
gress— my  growing  conformity  to  tlie 
holy  character  of  a  holy  God, 

For  this  end,  overrule  all  the  dispen- 
sations of  Thy  providence.   May  I  lieaT 


16  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

a  voice  in  each  of  them  proclaiming, 
"  Be  holy."  May  I  be  led  to  bear  them 
all,  and  to  rejoice  in  them  all,  if  they 
thus  be  the  means  of  bringing  me  near- 
er Thyself. 

I  commend  to  Thy  fatherly  protection 
all  my  beloved  friends,  and  all  for  whom 
I  ought  to  pray.  "Sanctify  them 
through  Thy  truth."  May  they  all  be 
presented  unblamable  before  Thee  in 
the  day  of  Christ's  appearing. 

And  may  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
and  the  love  of  God,  and  the  commu- 
nion and  fellowship  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
be  with  me  now  and  ever.     Amen. 


^  OAirSB   MB  TO   HBAR  THY   LOVINO-KINDWE88  IM  IHE 
MOENING,  FOB  IN  THBB  DO  I  TBU6T." 


THE    MORNING   WATCHES.  17 


4tu  Morxxxg. 

*'  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  Hold  Thou  me  up,  and  I  shall  be  safe."— Ps.  cxix  117. 

/lir  lupjiart     ^^st    gracious     God, 
,  ,.        ffive  me  ffrace  to  beein 

in  '(^nnptotiDU.  %  ^^^  ^^^.^j^g  ^^j,, 

Thee.  Ere  entering  on  the  world,  I 
invoke  Thy  blessing.  Before  I  hear  the 
voice  of  earthly  friend,  or  mingle  in 
eartlily  society,  may  I  have  a  conscious 
filial  nearness  to  Thee,  my  Father  in 
heaven.  0,  Thou  better,  tenderer, 
dearer,  than  all  on  earth,  give  me  the 
sweet_  assurance  of  Thy  presence  and 
favomO,  With  this,  all  the  day's  joys  will 
be  joys  indeed — with  this,  the  sting  will 
be  extracted  from  the  day's  sorrows. 
In  quiet  confidence  I  will  repose  on  Thy 
covenant  faithfulness.  I  need  no  other 
benediction.  Lord,  if  I  have  Thine. 
Other  portions  may  fail  me,  but  I  am 
Independent  of  all,  if  "  Thou  art  the 
2 


18  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

Btrengtli  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion 
for  ever." 

I  adore  and  bless  Thy  holy  name  for 
every  past  token  of  Thy  kindness  and 
forbearance.  The  retrospect  of  life  is 
a  retrospect  of  love.  I  am  a  wonder  to 
myself  that  Thou  hast  spared  me — that 
mercy  is  remembered  when  nothing  but 
wrath  is  deserved.  "Unless  the  Lord 
had  been  my  help,  my^  soul  had  long 
ere-  now  dwelt  in  silence?' 

\0n  that  same  arm  I  would  desire  still 
i;o  lean.  I  am  compassed  about  with  a 
great  fight  of  afflictions,  and  the  sorest 
and  saddest  of  all  are  my  sins.  But  I 
fly  to  Thee,  thou  helper  of  the  helpless. 
Give  me  to  know  what  it  is  to  dismiss 
all  my  own  guilty  misgivings,  and  to 
rest  by  simple  faith  on  a  tried  Re- 
deemer. It  is  mistrust  of  Him  that 
has  been  the  cause  of  many  a  bygone 
fall.  I  have  been  dwelling  more  on  the 
strength  of  my  temptations  than  on  the 
strength   of  my  Saviour.      Oh,   "hold 


THE   MORNING  WATCHES.  19 

Thou  me  up,  blessed  Jesus  !  and  I  ehall 
be  safe."  Whenever  in  the  way  of  sin, 
give  me  to  realise  the  all-sufficiency  of 
Thy  grace.  May  every  hurricane  of 
temptation  drive  me  more  under  the 
shelter  of  the  Rock.  May  the  loss  of 
every  earthly  prop  lead  me  to  Thyself 
— the  only  abiding  refuge.  No  step  in 
the  wilderness-journey  would  I  take 
without  Thee.  No  loss  would  I  mourn 
when  sustained  at  Thy  bidding.  No 
enemy  would  I  fear  if  Thou  art  on  my 
bide.  Hold  Thou  me  up,  and  then  in- 
deed I  shall  be  safe — safe  for  time — safe 
for  eternity. 

And  the  same  support  I  ask  for  my- 
self, I  beseech  thee  to  vouchsafe  to  all 
near  and  deaj  to  me.  May  the  Lord 
God  be  their  "  sun  and  shield/'  May 
they  experience  no  temptation  "  above 
what  they  are  able  to  bear  ; ''  or,  with 
the  temptation,  grant  them  grace  that 
they  may  be  able  to  bear  it.  And 
when  all  earthly  dangers  and  toils  and 


20  THE    MORNING    WATCHES. 

trials  are  over,  may  we  all  be  enabled 
to  meet  in  glory,  and  trace  there,  with 
adoring  gratitude  and  joy,  the  way  in 
which  IViy  mercy  through  life  "has 
held  us  up." 

Anew  I  commend  myself,  body  and 
soul,  to  Thee  this  day.  For  Thy  dear 
Son's  sake,  forgive  all  my  sins.  My  sole 
trust  is  in  the  atoning  blood.  May  I 
feel  this  to  be  the  best  preservative 
against  temptation  and  sin,  that  all  I 
am,  and  all  I  have,  is  not  my  own,  but 
belongs  to  the  Lord  who  died  for  me. 
Hear  these  my  unworthy  supplications, 
and  grant  me  an  answer  in  peace,  for 
His  sake.    Amen. 


CAUSE  ME  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING -KINDNESS  TO  THS 
MORNING,   FOR  IN  THBK  DO  I  TR0ST.'" 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  21 


5th  MORNINO. 

"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  Though  I  walk  in  the  midst  of  trouble,  Thou  wilt  revive 
rae." — Ps.  cxxxviii.  7. 

iC  'ja  \  *  Most  blessed  Lord,  who 
M  Mm  tn  i^^g^  again  permitted  me  to 
(ii^tUlHIlL  approach  a  throne  of  grace, 
do  Thou  this  day  shine  into  my  heart. 
Anew  may  I  enter  on  another  day's  du- 
ties and  trials,  with  a  soul  calm  and 
peaceful  amid  all  other  disquietudes,  by 
being  at  peace  with  Thee. 

I  bless  Thee  that  I  can  ever  "  sing  of 
mercy"  as  well  as  of  "  judgment."  Thy 
dealings  might  have  been  all  in  unmixed 
wrath,  but  the  severest  of  them  are  tem- 
pered with  gracious  love.  Oh  that  they 
may  have  their  designed  effect  of  driving 
me  to  the  only  true  rest  for  the  soul,  in 
the  bosom  of  its  God  !  May  the  break- 
ing of  cistern  by  cistern  only  endear  to 
me  the  more  the  great  Fountain-head. 


22  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

How  often  dost  Thou  send  tribula- 
tions, that  Thy  people  may  see  more  of 
Thy  gracious  hand  !  How  often,  when 
the  waters  are  troubled,  do  we  recog- 
nize the  presence  of  the  great  Covenant- 
angel  himself,  and  experience  the  pleni- 
tude of  His  upholding  grace  and  mercy ! 
Lord,  my  earnest  prayer  is,  that  every 
trial  may  serve  to  unfold  to  me  more  of 
the  preciousness  of  JesusJ'  As  prop  by 
prop,  which  was  wont  to  support  me  on 
earth,  may  be  giving  way,  may  I  know 
what  it  is  to  lean  my  whole  weight  upon 
Him,  and  leave  my  whole  case  with 
Him,  repairing  to  Him  as  the  friend 
that  "  sticketh  closer  than  any  brother" 
— into  His  sympathizing  bosom  to  con- 
fide my  every  want — from  His  inexhaust- 
ible treasury  to  draw  every  consolation 
— and  on  His  upholding  arm  confidingly 
and  habitually  to  rest. 

What,  0  blessed  Saviour,  are  my 
troubles  to  Thine !  What  are  my  bit- 
terest tears  and  most  aching  heart  in 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  23 

comparison  with  what  Thou  didst  so 
freely  endure  for  me  !  May  the  remem- 
brance of  this  Thy  fellowship  in  my  suf- 
fering, and  my  fellowship  in  Thine,  re- 
concile me  patiently  to  endure  whatso- 
ever Thou  seest  meet  to  lay  upon  me. 
Give  me  grace  ever  to  see  that  my  bit- 
terest trial  is  my  sin,  that  my  heaviest 
cross  is  the  cross  of  my  wandering 
treacherous  heart.  When  I  think  of  that 
blessed  time  when  God  shall  terminate 
the  tears  of  a  weeping  world,  may  this 
be  my  loftiest  ground  of  rejoicing — that 
there  will  be  then  no  more  sin  to  cause 
them. 

Humbly  I  would  lie  at  my  Saviour's 
feet,  disowning  all  trust  save  in  Him — 
exulting  in  His  finished  work,  and  meri- 
torious righteousness,  and  all-prevalent 
intercession.  I  rejoice  to  think  of  the 
redeemed  multitude  before  His  throne, 
"  whom  no  man  can  number,"  and  to  feel 
that  His  ability  and  willingness  "  to  save 
\into  the  uttermost"  are  still  the  same. 


24  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

Command,  0  Lord,  Thy  richest  bless- 
ing this  day  on  all  whom  I  los-e.  May 
all  my  relatives  be  related  to  Thee  in 
the  common  bonds  of  the  gospel.  Though 
separated  by  distance  from  each  other 
on  life's  highway,  may  we  enjoy  the 
consolation  that  we  are  all  treading  the 
same  invisible  road  Zionward/—  that 
earth's  dearest  and  tenderest  ties  will, 
at  the  end  of  the  chequered  journey,  be 
strengthened  and  perpetuated  in  the  full 
vision  and  fruition  of  Thee  our  God. 

May  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
the  love  of  God,  and  the  fellowship  and 
communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with 
me  this  day  and  ever.     Amen. 


CAUSB  ME  TO  FEAR  THY  LOVING -KINDNESS  I» 
MORNING,  FOR  IN  THEE  DO  I  TRCBT." 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  26 


Cth  Morning. 

**  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

'  Turn  thee  unto  me,  and  have  mercy  upon  me,  for  lam 
desolate  and  afflicted." — Ps.  xxv.  16. 

jf  p.  r>  1  •  0  God,  I  come  to  Thee 
W  (iuniatnn  IE  ^^g  morning,  rejoicing- 
%nmmmi  -^  ^he  simple  but  sub- 
lime  assurance  that  "  the  Lord  reign- 
eth."  Thy  judgments  are  often  "a  great 
deep."  May  it  be  mine  ever  to  own 
Thy  sovereignty,  and  to  rest  satisfied 
with  the  assurance,  "  He  hath  done  all 
things  well." 

It  is  indeed  my  comfort  to  know  tha.t 
"  my  times"  are  not  in  my  own  hands, 
but  in  Thine.  When  in  vain  I  seek  to 
explain  the  mystery  of  Thy  inscrutable 
doings,  may  I  be  enabled  implicitly  to 
trust  Thine  unswerving  rectitude  and 
faitlifulness.  (The  kindest  and  best  of 
earthly  parents  may  err^-they  may  be 
betrayed  into  unnecessary  harshness  and 


26  THE   MORNlNa   WATCHES. 

severity-— but  Thou,  O^unerriiig  Pa^eat 
wilt  not,  and  canst  not,  inflict  one  un- 
needed  stroke.  (l  can  own  Thy  wisdom 
where  I  cannot  discern  it^  I  can  trust 
the  footsteps  of  love  where  I  cannot 
trace  them. 

I  look  back  with  adoring  wonder  on 
all  Thy  marvellous  dealings  towards  me 
in  the  past.  ^When  my  foot  slipped, 
Thy  mercy,  0  Lord,  held  me  up."  How 
many  tear-drops  have  been  dried  by 
Thee!  How  many  sorrows  have  been 
soothed  by  thee !  How  many  dangers 
have  been  averted  by  Thee !  Instead  of 
wondering  at  my  trials,  I  have  rather 
reason  to  marvel  at  Thy  forbearance.^ 
What  are  my  heaviest  afflictions  in  com- 
parison with  the  deserts  of  sin  ?  Lord,  if 
they  had  been  in  proportion  to  my  guilt, 
I  could  not  have  had  one  hour  of  joy. 

j^ive  me  grace  not  only  to  bear  all, 
and  to  endure  all,  but  to  glory  i^  aU 
which  Thy  chastening  love  s'^s  meet  to 
appoint.      Affliction  is  Thine  own  ap- 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  27 

pointed  training-school  for  immortality 
If  I  need  such  training,  Lord,  withhold 
it  not.  Rather  subject  me  to  the  sever- 
est ordeal  of  fatherly  discipline,  than 
leave  me  to  vex  Thee  more  with  my 
guilty  departures  and  backsliding.  1 
will  confide  in  the  tenderness  of  Thy 
dealings — that  Thou  wilt  conduct  me  by 
no  rougher  path  than  is  really  need- 
ful. Thou  hast  given  Thy  Son  for  me  I 
After  sucJi  a  pledge  of  Thy  love,  may  it 
never  be  mine  to  breathe  one  murmur- 
ing word. 

C^OT  all  in  sorrow,  Lord,  I  pray  that 
ttey  may  take  their  sorrows  to  the 
"  Man  of  sorrows."  May  they  be  will- 
ing to  forget  their  own  light  afflictions 
as  they  behold  His  bleeding  wounds) 
Blessed  God,  what  asourceof  joy  to  the 
whole  family  of  the  afflicted,  that  the  ex- 
alted Head  and  elder  Brother  has  Him- 
self tasted  sorrow's  bitterest  cup  !  Lord 
Jesus,  Thou  who  hast  suffered  so  much 
for  me,  grant  that  by  patience  and  un- 


28  THE   MOENING    WATCHES. 

repining  submission  I  may  be  enabled  to 
"  rfori&  thee  in  the  fires." 

All  my  beloved  friends  I  commit  to 
Thy  care.  May  the  Lord  be  their  ever- 
lasting portion.  Forbid  that  I  shonld 
have  to  monrn  in  them  what  would  be 
bitterer  than  the  pang  of  all  earthly 
bereavement — that  they  are  bereft  of 
Thy  favour.  Make,  them  Thijie,  and 
in  the  midst  of  life's  vicissitudes  and 
changes,  may  we  all  look  forward  to 
that  better  time^  and  that  betliSr  worLJ^ 
where  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  for  ever 
flee  away.  And  all  I  ask  is  for  Jesus' 
sake.     Amen. 


"  CJIUSB  KE  TO  HEAR  THY  L0V1N'G-KINDNES!S  IN  THE   MOMriBO, 
TOE  nr  THBB  PO     TRTJSfS,  " 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  29 

7th   JIORXIJfQ 

"  0  Lord,  in  tlie  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"Unto  the  upright  there  ariseth  light  in  the  Jarkness."— 
Ps.  cxii.  4. 

.p     ^-  I  i     Eternal,  everlasting  Grod, 

presence.  What  am  I — a  guilty,  un- 
worthy sinner,  deserving  only  of  con- 
demnation— that  I  should  be  permitted, 
with  holy  boldness,  to  approach  the 
footstool  of  Thy  throne,  and  call  Thee 
"  my  Father  in  heaven  !" 

(I  rejoice  to  know,  when  "my  heart 
is^'overwhelmed,  and  in  "perplexity," 
that  I  can  ever  look  unto  Thee  as  a 
"Rock  that  is  higher  than  I" — that, 
amid  all  the  ebbings  and  flo wings  in  the 
tide  of  my  own  fitful  frames  and  feel- 
ings, Thou,  great  Rock  of  ages,  remainest 
fixed  and  immovable.  Thou  hast  never 
failed  me  in  the  past.    When  "  deep  has 


30  THE   MORNING    WATCHES. 

been  calling  to  deep,"  and  many  "  wavea 
and  billows  have  gone  over  me,"  "  the 
Lord  has  commanded  His  loving-kind- 
ness in  the  day-time,  and  in  the  night 
His  song  has  been  with  me,  and  my 
prayer  unto  the  God  of  my  life."  And 
I  will  trust  Thee  in  the  future.  In  the 
midst  of  baffling  and  mysterious  provi- 
dences I  will  be  still — hushing  every 
murmur,  and  breathing  in  lowly  resig- 
nation the  prayer,  "  divinely  taught," 
"Thy  will  be  done." 

It  is  my  comfort  to  know  that  the 
darkest  cloud  is  fringed  with  covenant 
love.  I  can  repose  in  the  blessed  as- 
surance that  present  discipline  is  needed 
discipline,  and  that  all  which  is  mystery 
now  will  be  cleared  up  hereafter.  May 
it  be  mine  cheerfully  to  follow  ihe  foot- 
steps of  the  guiding  Shepherd  through 
the  darkest,  loneliest  road,  and  amidst 
thickening  sorrows  may  I  have  grace  to 
say,  "Though  He  slay  me,  yet  will  1 
trust  in  Him." 


THE    MORNING   WATCHES.  31 

(Lord,  increase  my  faith — let  it  rise 
above  all  difficulties  and  all  trials.  Let 
these  drive  me  closer  to  Him  who  has 
promised  to  make  me  "  more  than  con- 
queror." Let  them  quicken  my  longings 
for  the  true  home  of  my  soul  above. 
May  it  be  my  grand  ambition  here  to 
be  a  "  pilgrim  "  in  everything — to  be 
pitching  my  tent  day  by  day  nearer 
heaven,  imbibing  every  day  more  of 
the  pilgrim  character,  and  longing  more 
for  the  pilgrim's  rest.  May  I  be  ena- 
bled to  say,  with  an  increasingly  chas- 
tened spirit,  of  a  passing  world,  "  Here 
I  have  no  continuing  city."  May  this 
assurance  dry  all  tears,  and  reconcile  to 
all  sorrows — "  I  am  journeying  unto  the 
place  of  which  the  Lord  hath  said,  I  will 
give  it  you." 

Blessed  Jesus,  hasten  Thy  coming  and 
Thy  kingdom.  Scatter  the  dai/cness 
which  is  now  covering  heathen  nations. 
Stand  by  Thy  missionary  servants.  May 
they  exercise  a  simple  faith  on  Thine 


32  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

own  sure  word  of  promise.  "  Strong- 
in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  Hi? 
might,"  may  every  mountain  of  diJGficulty 
be  made  a  plain,  and  "  the  glory  of  the 
Lord  be  revealed." 

God  of  Bethel,  I  commend  to  Thee 
all  my  beloved  friends,  j  Shield  them 
by  Thy  protecting  providence.  Give 
them  every  needed  blessing  in  the  pres- 
ent life,  and  in  the  world  to  come  life 
everlasting.  And  all  I  ask  is  for  Jesus 
sake.     Amen. 


OAl^SE    ME    TO    DEAR    THY    L0^^NG-KINDNlirf8   IN   THE 
MOENIWO,   rOH  IN  TUKE  DO  I  TKU8T." 


THE   MORNINO    WATCHES.  38 


8th  MoBirtNO. 

"  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee/' 
"  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  0  my  soul,  and  why  art  thoit 
.ilaqniuted  within  me?    Hope  thou  in  God."— Ps.  xhii.  5. 

^     rjr>;       .       0  God,  in  Thine  infinite 

/nr  Inpnn  Thou  hast  again 

DlBtniirngtintllt  3^,,,,^  ^^  ^o  approach 

Thy  blessed  presence.  May  each  morn- 
ing find  me  better  prepared  for  the  glo- 
rious waking-time  of  immortality,  when 
"  tlie  day  shall  break,"  and  earth's  shad- 
ows shall  for  ever  •'  flee  away."  May 
I  seek  to  rise  this  day  in  newness  of 
life,  breathing  more  of  the  atmosphere 
of  holineas,  and  partaking  more  of  the 
character  of  heaven. 

Thou  art  ever,  by  the  salutary  dispen- 
sations of  Thy  providence,  reminding 
me  that  "  earth  is  not  ray  rest."  It  is 
well.  Lord,  that  it  should  be  so  ;  that, 
by  Thine  own  gracious  and  needed  dis- 
.  cipline,  the  world  be  disarmed  of  its  in- 
A^uiuating  power  and  I  be  weaned  from 


V 


V,     .  ^ 


34  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

what  is  precarious  at  the  best,  and 
which  ultimately  Tmist  perish. 

0  my  God,  I  feel  heavily  burdened 
by  reason  of  sin.  I  mourn  my  guilty 
proneness  to  temptation.  How  cny- 
thing  and  everything  seems  often  enough 
to  drive  me  from  thee,  and  to  lead  me 
to  seek  my  happiness  in  created  good, 
rather  than  in  Thyself,  the  infinite  foun- 
tain of  all  excellence !  How  sad  have 
been  my  backslidings ! — how  have  solemn 
vows  been  broken! — ^how  have  aban- 
doned and  forsworn  sins  threatened 
again  to  have  dominion  over  me !  How 
little  tenderness  of  conscience  has  there 
been ! — ^liow  little  dread  of  an  uneven 
walk !  How  often,  on  the  heart  which 
I  have  consecrated  to  Thee  as  an  altar 
for  the  perpetual  sacrifice  of  praise,  and 
gratitude,  and  love,  has  there  been  burn- 
ing incense  to  strange  gods  1 

Lord,  when  I  look  to  my  inner  self, 
I  have  good  cause  indeed  for  misgivings 
and  despondency.     Conscience  repeats, 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  35 

over  and  over  again,  a  sentence  of  con- 
demnation,  and  I  have  nought  to  ex- 
tenuate my  guilt  or  palliate  my  sin. 
Whither  can  I  flee  ?  Where  can  I  look 
but  to  Thee,  0  Lamb  of  God,  thou  sin- 
bearing  and  sin -forgiving  Saviour  ! 

Enable  me  to  be  living  more  from 
moment  to  moment  on  Thy  grace — to 
rely  on  Thy  guiding  arm  with  more 
childlike  confidence — to  look  with  a 
more  simple  faith  to  Thy  finished  work, 
disowning  all  trust  in  my  own  doings, 
and  casting  myself,  as  a  poor  needy  pen- 
sioner, on  the  bounty  of  Him  who  hath 
done  all,  and  suffered  all,  and  endured 
all,  for  me.  Thus  relying  on  the  unseen 
arm  of  a  covenant-God,  when  the  hour 
of  darkness  and  discouragement  over- 
takes me — when  trials  multiply,  and 
comforts  fail,  and  streams  of  earthly 
blessings  are  dried  up — may  I  have  what 
compensates  for  the  loss  of  all,  "  Thy 
favour,  which  is  life,  and  Thy  loving- 
kindness,  which  is  better  than  life."    "  I 


30  THE    MORNING   WATCHES. 

will  go  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord 
God."  "  Though  He  slay  me,  yet  will 
I  trust  in  Him." 

Be  the  God  of  all  near  and  dear  to 
me.  May  all  my  relatives  be  able  to 
claim  a  spiritual  relationship  with  Thee, 
that  so  those  earthly  bonds  of  attach- 
ment, which  sooner  or  later  must  snap 
asunder  here,  may  be  renewed  and  per- 
petuated before  the  throne. 

Compassionate  all  who  are  in  sorrow. 
Comfort  the  feeble-minded.  May  "  the 
joy  of  the  Lord  be  their  strength." 
May  valuable  lives  be  prolonged.  May 
those  appointed  unto  death  be  prepared 
for  their  great  change.  And  all  I  ask 
is  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 

•*  CAUSE  ME  TO  HEAE    THY  LOVING- KIN DKBSS  IK  TUB 
MOBNINQ,  FOB  IN  THKB  DO      TBOBT." 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  37 


9th  Morning 


"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  Oausa  me  to  know  the  way  wherein  I  should  walk,  for  I 
lift  up  my  soul  unto  Thee." — Ps.  cxliii.  8. 

^     ,^v^'  V        ♦      0  ETERNAL  LORD,  wllOSO 

I  am  again  invited  into  Thy  presence. 
What  am  I,  that  I  should  be  permitted 
to  speak  to  the  infinite  God !  I  might 
have  been  left  through  eternity  a  monu- 
ment of  Thy  righteous  vengeance.  I 
might  have  known  Thee  only  as  "  the 
consuming  fire."  But  "  Thy  ways  are 
not  as  man's  ways  ;"  mercy  is  remem- 
bered when  wrath  might  have  come 
upon  me  to  the  uttermost. 

I  desire  to  begin  this  day,  blessing 
and  praising  Thee  for  "  Thine  unspeak- 
able gift,"  Jesus  the  Son  of  Thy  love. 
Adored  be  Thy  name,  that  the  guilt  of 
my  sin,  which  the  holiness  of  Thy  law 


38  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

could  not  suffer  otherwise  to  be  can* 
celled,  has  to  Him  been  transferred — 
that,  as  the  scape-goat  of  His  people, 
He  has  borne  the  mighty  load  into  the 
land  of  oblivion,  never  more  to  be  re- 
membered. May  I  be  enabled  to  shew 
forth  my  lively  gratitude  to  Thee  for 
this  wondrous  token  of  Thy  love,  not 
only  by  lip  homage,  but  by  heart  and 
life  devotion.  Sanctify  and  seal  me  in 
body,  soul,  and  spirit ;  and  present  me 
at  last "  faultless  before  the  presence  of 
Thy  glory  with  exceeding  joy." 

0  my  God,  I  rejoice  to  know  that  my 
interests  for  time  and  eternity  are  con- 
tided  to  Thy  keeping.  Though  often 
"  wonderful  in  council,"  Thou  art  ever 
"  excellent  in  working."  Thou  art "  God 
cnly  wise" — "  righteous  in  all  Thy  ways, 
and  holy  in  all  Thy  works."  I  commit 
my  way  and  my  doings  unto  Thee. 
"  Hold  Thou  me  up,  and  I  shall  be  safe." 
May  I  trust  Thy  wisdom  and  faithful- 
ness, es^en  amid  crosses  and  losses,  and 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  39 

frowning  providences.  Make  them  all 
work  together  for  my  good. 

If  my  path  be  in  any  way  now  hedged 
up  with  thorns,  "undertake  Thou  for 
me."  "  Guide  me  with  Thy  coimsel." 
Let  me  take  no  step,  and  engage  in  no 
plan,  unsanctioned  by  Thine  approval. 
Let  it  be  my  grand  aim  and  ambition, 
in  all  the  changes  of  a  changing  life,  to 
hear  Thy  directing  voice,  saying,  "  This 
is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it ;"  and  then 
shall  all  life's  trials  be  sweetened,  and 
life's  burden  lightened,  by  knowing  that 
they  are  the  appointment  of  infinite 
wisdom  and  unchanging  love,  and  that, 
though  man  may  err,  God  never  can. 

May  the  Holy  Spirit  lead  me  this 
day  into  all  the  truth.  May  all  its 
duties  be  pervaded  by  the  leavening 
power  of  vital  godliness.  While  in  the 
world,  may  I  seek  to  feel  and  to  exhibit 
that  I  am  not  of  it.  May  I  give  evi- 
dence, in  my  walk  and  conversation,  of  a 
renewed  nature,  and  of  a  nobler  destiny. 


4u  THE    MORNING   WATCHES. 

Hasten,  blessed  Jesus,  Thy  coming 
and  Thy  kingdom.  "How  long  shall 
the  wicked  triumph?"  "Save  Thy 
people,  and  bless  Thine  inheritance  ;  feed 
them  also,  and  lift  them  up  for  ever. " 

Let  the  voice  of  salvation  be  heard  in 
the  households  of  all  I  love.  May  theirs 
be  the  dwellings  of  the  righteous.  May 
this  be  their  name, "  The  Lord  is  there." 
May  they  know  Him  who  hath  said,  "  I 
will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee.'' 

And  "  now,  Lord,  what  wait  I  for  ? 
my  hope  is  in  thee."  Hear  and  answer 
these  unworthy  supplications,  for  Jesus' 
sake.     Amen. 

*'<A.1T8K   MB   TO   HEAR   THY    I.O VINO- KINDNUSS   IN    THE 
XOBNINO  FOB  IN  TUBE   DO   I  TBT78T!." 


THE    MORNING   WATCHES.  41 

10th  Morning. 

"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  pra.yei 
unto  Thee." 

'  My  strcugth  is  made  perfect  in  weakness." — 2  Cor.  xii.  0. 

•  L  I  ^  "  God,  inhabiting  eternity, 
m  WUUtm.  ^g  Tliou  draw  near  unto 
a  poor  unworthy  sinner,  who  ventures 
anew  this  morning  to  approach  the  foot- 
stool of  Thy  throne.  Vouchsafe  me 
now  the  gracious  aids  of  Thy  gracious 
Spirit,  that  out  of  much  weakness  I  may 
be  made  strong.  It  is  Thine  own  gra- 
cious assurance,  that  "  they  that  wait  up- 
on the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength." 
1  would  rely  on  the  faithfulness  of  a 
promising  God.  May  my  own  utter 
emptiness  drive  me  to  all  fulness.  May 
my  own  conscious  weakness  wean  mo 
from  all  earthly  props,  and  confidences, 
and  refuges,  to  "  abide  under  the  shadow 
of  the  Almighty." 

liord,  I  confess  this  dav  with  shame 


42  THE   MORNING    WATCHES. 

and  confusion  of  face  my  manifoJd  infir- 
mities, my  coldness  and  lukewarmness, 
my  distrust  of  Thy  providence,  my  in- 
sensibility to  Thy  love,  my  murmuring 
at  thy  dealings,  my  tampering  with  sin, 
my  resisting  of  Thy  grace.  How  often, 
like  the  slender  reed,  have  I  bent  before 
the  blast  of  temptation,  my  best  resolu- 
tions proving  "  as  the  morning  cloud 
and  the  early  dew ! " 

And  yet,  gracious  Father,  Thou  hast 
not  broken  "  the  bruised  reed  " — Thou 
hast  not  "  quenched  the  smoking  flax." 
I  am  here  this  morning  a  marvel  to  my 
self  that  Thou  art  still  sparing  me. 
"  Thy  ways  are  not  as  man's  ways."  Had 
it  been  so.  Thou  wouldest  long  since  have 
grown  weary.  But  it  is  the  prerogative 
of  the  everksting  God  that  ^'He  faintetli 
not,  neither  is  weary."  Thou  art  this 
morning  giving  me  fresh  grants  of  mer- 
cy, renewed  proofs  and  tokens  of  un- 
merited love.  I  am  receiving  "  at  the 
Lord's  hand  double  for  all  mv  sins.'^ 


THE   MORNINC    WATCHES.  43 

I  rejoice  to  know,  blessed  Jesas,  that 
it  is  Thy  burdened  ones  Thou  hast 
specially  promised  "gently  to  lead." 
Thou  wilt  conduct  me  by  no  rougher 
road  than  is  necessary.  "  Undertake 
Thou  for  me."  May  the  wilderness 
journey  be  this  day  resumed  and  re- 
newed with  a  more  simple,  and  child- 
like, and  habitual  leaning  on  Thee.  Do 
Thou  put  this  new  song  into  my  mouth, 
'>^^The  Lord  is  my  Rock,  and  my  for- 
tress, and  my  deliverer  ;  my  God,  my 
strength,  in  whom  I  will  trust?)  Say 
unto  me,  in  the  midst  of  my  weakness, 
"  Fear  not,  thou  worm  Jacob.''  With 
the  pillar  of  Thy  presence  ever  be- 
fore me,  "I  will  go  from  strength  to 
strength." 

Keep  me  this  day  from  sin.  May  no 
evil  thoughts,  or  vain  imaginings,  or 
deceitful  lusts,  obtrude  on  my  walk 
with  God.  May  an  affecting  sense 
of  how  frail  I  am,  keep  me  near  the 
atoning  sacrifice.     May  the  "  horns  of 


44  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

the  altar"  ever  be  in  sight.  Blessed 
Jesus,  my  helpless  soul  would  hang 
every  moment  upon  Thee. 

Look  down  in  Thy  kindness  on  all 
connected  with  me  by  ties  of  earthly 
kindred.  May  the  blessing  of  the  God 
of  Bethel  rest  on  every  heart  and  house- 
hold I  love.  May  we  all  be  journeying 
Zionwards,  and  be  so  weaned  from  earth 
as  to  feel  that  Zionwards  is  homewards. 
If  pursuing  different  paths,  and  sepa- 
rated, it  may  be,  far  from  one  another, 
may  the  journey  have  one  blessed  and 
happy  termination.  •  May  we  meet  in 
glory,  and  meet  with  Thee.  And  all  I 
ask  is  for  the  Redeemer's  sake.    Amen. 


CAUSK  ME  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING-KINDNESS  IN  THE 
MOKNING,  FOR  IN  THKB  DO  I  THUOT." 


THE    MORNING    WATCHES.  45 


11th  ]\[0RMNG. 


*'0  lord,  in  the  morning  xnll  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

\miRt  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  His  beneCls 
towards  me?"-^Ps.  cxvi.  12. 

iCn^  .rit.rri;+«\n   ^   ^tOD,  I  aclorG  Thee  as 

lui  :)%AUii.,  every  good  and  every  per- 
fect gift.  Thou  art  daily  loading  me 
with  thy  benefits.  Every  returning 
morning  brings  with  it  fresh  causes  for 
gratitude — new  material  for  praise.  I 
bless  Thee  for  Thy  temporal  bounties — 
"  how  great  has  been  the  sum  of  them  !" 
While  others  have  been  pining  in  pov- 
erty, or  wasted  by  sickness,  or  racked 
in  pain,  or  left  friendless  and  portion- 
less. Thou  hast  been  making  showers 
of  blessing  to  fall  around  my  dwelling. 
I  laid  me  down  last  night  and  slept— 
I  awaked,  for  the  Lord  sustained  me. 
I  might  never  have  seen  the  morning 
light.  Mine  might  have  been  the  mid- 
night summons  to  meet  a  God  in  whose 


46  THE   MORNING  WATCHES. 

righteous  presence  I  was  all  unmeet  and 
unprepared  to  stand.  And  yet  I  am 
again  spared  a  iiionument  of  Thy  good- 
ness. Oh,  do  Thou  enkindle  a  flame  of 
undying  gratitude  to  Thee,  on  the  clay- 
cold  altar  of  my  heart.  I  mourn  and 
lament  tliat  I  am  so  little  and  so  feebly 
affected  by  the  magnitude  of  Thy  mer- 
cies, and  especially  by  the  riches  of  Thy 
grace  and  love  manifested  in  Jesus  ; — 
that  my  affections  are  so  little  alive  to 
the  incalculable  obligation  under  which 
I  am  laid  to  Him  who  hath  "  loved  me 
with  an  everlasting  love."  I  am  doubly 
Thine.  Creation  and  redemption  com- 
bine in  claiming  all  I  am,  and  all  I  have, 
for  Thee  and  Thy  service.  Good  Lord, 
preserve  me  from  the  sin  of  insensibil- 
ity to  Thine  unwearied  kindness — of 
taking  Thy  mercies  as  matters  of  course, 
and  thus  living  in  a  state  of  independ- 
ence of  Thee.  May  my  whole  existence 
become  a  sacrifice  of  praise  and  thanks- 
giving— may  all  my  doings  testify  the 


THE    MORNING   WATCHES.  47 

sincerity  and  devotion  of  a  heart  feel- 
ingly alive  to  every  gift  of  the  great 
Giver  ;  and,  especially,  may  I  be  so 
brought  under  the  constraining  inllu- 
CDce  of  redeeming  love,  as  to  consecrate 
every  power  of  my  body  and  every 
faculty  of  my  soul  to  Him  who  so  wil- 
lingly consecrated  and  shed  His  very 
life's  blood  for  me. 

Lord,  this  day  shine  upon  me  with 
the  light  of  Thy  countenance ;  may 
every  mercy  I  experience  in  the  course 
of  it  be  hallowed  and  sweetened  by  the 
thought  that  it  comes  from  God.  And 
while  ever  mindful  and  thankful  in  the 
midst  of  present  mercies,  teach  me  to 
keep  in  view  the  crowning  mercy  of  all 
— the  hope  of  at  last  sliaring  Thy  pres- 
ence and  full  fruition,  and  of  joining  in 
the  eternal  ascription  with  the  ransomed 
multitude  above,  who  cease  not  day  nor 
night  to  celebrate  Thy  praises. 

Bless  all  near  and  dear  to  me.  De- 
fend tJiem  by  thy  mighty  power.     Give 


48  THH    MORNING    WATCHES. 

tliem^  too,  gratitude  for  mercies  past, 
and  the  sure  and  well-grounded  hope 
of  a  glorious  inheritar.ee  in  that  better 
world,  where  mercy  is  unmixed  with 
judgment,  and  joy  undarkened  by  sor- 
row. And  all  I  ask  is  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Araen. 


CAUSE    MB   TO    HEAR   THY    LOVING-KINDNESS    IV 

Mossrurc,  fob  in  thee  do  i  tbuet." 


THE   MORNING  WATCHES.  49 


12th  MoRjaxG 


"  0  Lord,  in  tlie  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

»  I  die  daily."— 1  Cor.  xv.  31. 

.  ♦£     Heavenly  Father,  who 

^nr  UmnX-  ^^^^  permitted  me,  in  Thy 

inn  Dt  i^in.  g^eat  mercy,  to  see  the 
light  of  another  day,  enable  me  to  be- 
gin and  to  end  it  with  Thee.  Let  all 
my  thoughts  and  purposes  and  actions 
have  the  superscription  written  on  them 
— "Holiness  to  the  Lord." 

Give  me  to  know  the  blessedness  of 
reconciliation — what  it  is,  as  a  sinner, 
and  the  chief  of  sinners,  to  come  "just 
as  I  am,  without  one  plea,"  to  that  blood 
"which  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  I  desire 
to  take  hold  of  the  sublime  assurance, 
that  Jesus  is  "able  to  save  unto  the 
uttermost" — that  He  has  left  nothing 
for  me  as  a  suppliant  at  Thy  throne — a 
pensioner  on  Thy  bounty — but  to  acccj)l 
4 


50  THE   MORNIN(}   WATCHES. 

all  as  the  gift  and  purchase  of  free,  un- 
merited grace. 

While  I  look  to  Him  as  my  Saviour 
from  the  penalty,  may  1  know  Him  also 
fis  my  Deliverer  from  the  poiver  of  sin. 
I  have  to  lament  that  so  often  I  have 
yielded  to  its  solicitations — that  my 
heart,  a  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  hag 
been  so  often  profaned  and  dishonoured 
by  the  "  accursed  thing,"  marring  my 
spiritual  joy,  and  sorely  interrupting 
communion  with  the  Lord  I  love.  Give 
me  grace  to  exercise  a  godly  jealousy 
over  my  traitor  affections — to  live  nearer 
Thee— to  have  the  magnet  of  my  heart 
more  centred  on  Thyself — to  keep  the 
eye  of  faith  more  steadily  on  Jesus — to 
live  more  habitually  under  "tlie  powers 
of  the  world  to  come."  Thou  knowest 
my  hesHting  sin — the  plague  of  my 
heart,  which  so  often  leads  to  a  guilly 
estrangement.  Lord,  cut  down  this  root 
of  bitterness.  Let  me  nail  it  to  Thy 
cross.     Let  me  be  ever  on  the  watch- 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  51 

tower,  ready  to  resist  the  first  assault  of 
the  enemy.  Let  it  be  to  me  at  once  a 
precept  and  a  promise — "Sin  shall  not 
liiive  dominion  over  you."  0  shew  me 
tliat  my  strength  to  reppl  temptation  is  in 
Jesus  alone.  Put  me  in  the  cleft  of  the 
rock  when  the  hurricane  is  passing  by. 
May  I  be  as  willing  to  surrender  all  for 
my  Saviour — my  heart  sins  and  life  sins 
— as  He  willingly  surrendered  His  all 
for  me.  May  I  be  enabled  to  say, "  Lord, 
I  am  Thine." 

Every  idol  I  utterly  abolish.  Save 
me,  blessed  Saviour,  from  a  deceitful 
heart  and  a  seductive  world.  Let  me 
see  more  and  more  the  beauties  of  holi- 
ness. Let  me  ever  be  basking  in  the 
rays  of  Thy  love — approaching  nearer 
and  nearer  Thee,  thou  "Sun  of  my 
soul."  May  Thy  loveliness  and  glory 
eclipse  all  cieated  beams,  and  may  I 
look  forward  with  bounding  heart  to 
that  time  when  all  that  helps  to  lighten 
up  earth's  pathway  shall  be  obscured  io 


62  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

the  shadow  of  dcatli,  and  I  shall  be 
ushered  into  tlie  glories  of  that  better  and 
brigliter  scene,  whore  "  the  sun  shall  no 
more  go  down,  neither  shall  the  moon 
withdraw  itself,  but  where  the  Lord  my 
God  shall  be  my  everlasting  light." 

And  what  I  ask  for  myself,  I  desire 
in  behalf  of  those  near  and  dear  to  me. 
Do  thou  "  sanctify  them  wholly."  May 
they,  too,  crucify  sin,  and  "  die  daily." 
May  this  be  the  happy  history  of  all  of 
us  —  "  Being  made  free  from  sin,  and 
having  become  the  servants  of  God,  we 
have  our  fruit  unto  holiness,  and  the  end 
everlasting  life."     Amen. 

"  CAUSE  HE  TO   HEAR  THY   LOVIXG-KINDNBSS  IN  TIM 
MOKNING,  FOB  IN  TQEE  DO  I  TBUST." 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  53 

13th    MOBNINO. 

"0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  Grow  in  grace." — 2  Pet.  iii.  18. 

'  ,0   God,  draw  near  to  mc 

.^Ur  (UjrOiniiJ  ^^  r^^^^  ^^.^^^  mercy.  An- 
tn  flJnlllirSH,  other  peaceful  morning  has 
dawned  upon  me.  May  it  be  mine  to 
know  the  happiness  of  those  who  walk 
all  the  day  in  the  light  of  Thy  counte- 
nance. 

0  thou  best  and  kindest  of  beings, 
teach  me  to  know,  amid  the  smiles  and 
the  frowns,  the  joys  and  the  sorrows, 
of  an  ever-changing  world,  what  it  is 
to  have  an  unchanging  refuge  and  por- 
tion in  Thee.  I  can  mourn  no  blank,  1 
can  feel  no  solitude,  when  I  have  Thy 
presence  and  love.  If  I  have  nought 
beside — stripped  and  denuded  of  every 
other  blessing— I  have  the  richest  of 
all,  if  I  be  at  peace  with  God. 


54  THE    MORNING    WATCHES. 

I  desire  to  dwell  with  devout  contem- 
plation on  the  infinite  loveliness  of  Thy 
moral  nature,  Lord,  I  long  to  have 
this  guilty,  erring  soul,  moulded  and 
fashioned  in  increasing  conformity  to 
Thy  blessed  mind  and  will.  Let  my 
great  concern  henceforth  be,  to  love  and 
serve  and  please  Thee  more  and  more. 
May  all  Thy  dealings  with  me,  of  what- 
ever kind  they  be,  contribute  in  promot- 
ing this  growth  in  holiness.  May  pros- 
perity draw  forth  a  perpetual  thank- 
offering  of  praise  for  unmerited  mercies. 
May  adversity  purify  away  the  dross  of 
worldliness  and  sin.  May  every  day  be 
finding  the  power  of  sin  weaker  and 
weaker,  and  the  dominion  of  grace 
stronger  and  stronger.  Living  under 
the  powers  of  a  world  to  come,  may  J 
look  forward  with  joyful  expectation 
to  the  time  when  sin  shall  no  longer 
impede  my  spiritual  growth — when  Sa- 
tan shall  be  disarmed  of  his  power,  and 
mvown  heart  of  its  deceitfulness — when 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES,  56 

every  faculty  of  a  glorified  and  exalted 
nature  shall  be  enlisted  in  Thy  service 
in  a  world  of  eternal  joy. 

0  thou  blessed  Advocate  within  the 
veil — Thou  who  art  even  now  interced- 
ing for  Thy  tried  and  tempted  saints, 
"that  their  faith  fail  not"-— do  Thou 
impart  unto  me  a  constant  supply  of 
Thy  promised  grace.  Not  only  sprinkle 
my  heart  with  Thy  blood,  but  conquer 
it  by  Thy  love.  Fill  me  with  deep  con 
trition  for  an  erring  past — inspire  me 
with  purposes  of  new  obedience  for  the 
future.  May  I  know,  in  my  sweet  ex- 
perience, that  "  Thy  yoke  is  easy  and 
Thy  burden  light" — that,  growing  in 
holiness,  I  am  growing  in  happiness 
too.  Give  me  an  increasing  tenderness 
of  conscience  about  sin — lead  me,  with 
more  filial  devotedness,  to  cultivate  a 
holy  fear  of  offending  so  gracious  a 
Father.  Habitually  realizing  my  new 
covenant  relationship  to  Thee,  may  J 
ever  be  ready  to   exclaim,  with  joyful 


56  THE   MORNING    WATCHES. 

sincerity,  "  0  Lord,  truly  I  am  Tliy 
servant !'' 

Revive,  blessed  God,  Thine  own  work 
everywhere.  "  Take  unto  Thee  Thy 
great  power,  and  reign."  Remove  all 
hardness  and  blindness  of  heart — all 
contempt  of  Thy  Word.  May  it  have 
free  course  and  be  glorified. 

Bless  my  dear  friends.  However  far 
separated  from  one  another,  we  can 
ever  meet  at  the  same  throne  of  the 
heavenly  grace,  pleading  the  same  "  ex- 
ceeding great  and  precious  promises." 
May  we  all  be  following  the  same  path 
of  grace  now,  and  meet  amid  the  endless 
joys  of  glory  hereafter.  And  all  I  ask 
is  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


"OAUaB  SIE  TO  HEAE  THY  LOVING  KINDNESfl  CN   THE 
MORNING,  FOB  IN    TUIIK  DO  I  T11TJ8T." 


THFi   MORNING    WATCHES.  57 


14th    MOR.VINO 


"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  mj'  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

'   Whatsoever  is  bora  of  God  overcometh  the  world." — 
1  John  V.  4. 

^        .  ,  0  ETERNAL,  everlasting 

.m  ^rajn        (.^^-^  ^j^^^^  ^^^^  glorious 

nDrrttieainrlfe.  ^^^  ^^^^^^^^^  ^^,^.^^^  .^ 

praises,  col  tinually  doing  wonders.  Hea- 
ven and  earth  are  full  of  the  majesty 
of  Thy  glory.  Thou,  the  almighty 
keeper  of  Israel,  never  slumberest. 
There  is  not  the  moment  I  am  away 
from  Thy  wakeful  vigilance.  In  the 
defenceless  hours  of  sleep,  as  well  as 
amid  life's  activities  and  toils.  Thou  art 
ever  the  same — *'  compassing  my  path 
and  my  lying  down,  and  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  all  my  ways." 

I  rejoice  to  think  that  I  have  the  as- 
surance of  such  unwearying  watchful- 
ness and  care,  in  a  world  "lying  in 
wickedness."  Blessed  Jesus,  in  the 
world  Thou  hast  forewarned  me  to  ex- 


58  THE   MORNING    WATCHES. 

pcct  tribulation,  but  nevertheless,  I  will 
"  be  of  good  cheer,  for  Thou  hast  over- 
come the  world."  Thou  hast  traversed 
its  wilderness-depths — Thou  hast  passed 
through  the  shadow  of  its  darkest  val- 
ley. I  cannot  dread  what  Thou  hast 
ti'odden  and  conquered. 

But,  alas !  I  have  to  mourn  that  the 
world  which  crucified  Thee  should  be 
so  much  loved  by  me — that  its  pleasures 
should  be  so  fascinating — its  pursuits  so 
engrossing.  Wean  me  from  it.  Break  its 
alluring  spell.  Strip  it  of  its  counterfeit 
charms.  Discover  to  me  its  hollowness 
— the  treachery  of  its  promises — the 
precariousness  of  its  best  blessings — 
the  fleeting  nature  of  its  most  enduring 
friendships.  I  take  comfort  in  the 
thought,  "The  Lord  God  is  a  sun  and 
shield."  The  world  has  deceived  me,  but 
Thou  never  hast.  G-uide  me  by  Thy 
counsel.  Saviour-God,  let  me  come  up 
from  the  wilderness  leaning  on  Thine 
arm,  exulting,  amid  its  legion-foes,  that 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  59 

greater  is  He  that  is  with  me  than  all 
they  that  can  be  against  me. 

0  Thou  who,  in  Thy  last  prayer  on 
cartli,  didst  so  tonchingiy  say  of  Thy 
pilgrim  people,  "  These  are  in  tlie 
world,"  do  Thou  still  bend  Thy  pity- 
ing eye  upon  me,  as  I  travel,  burdened 
with  sin  and  sorrow,  through  the  valley 
of  tears.  Do  Thou  so  "  sanctify  me 
through  Thy  truth,"  that,  though  in  the 
world,  I  may  not  be  of  it — not  con- 
formed to  its  sinful  practices  and  lying 
vanities.  Bring  me  to  say,  with  regard 
to  all  in  it  that  was  once  so  fascinating, 
"  My  soul  is  even  as  a  weaned  child." 
With  my  face  Zionwards,  may  I  declare 
plainly  that  I  seek  "  a  better  country.'' 

Grant  that  this  day,  in  all  my  worldly 
intercourse,  I  may  have  the  realizing 
sense  of  Thy  presence  and  nearness. 
May  I  set  a  watch  on  my  heart,  and 
keep  the  door  of  my  lips.  May  cher- 
ished feelings  of  love  and  devotedness 
to  Thee  be  iutermingled  with  all  life's 


60  THE    MORNING   WATCHES. 

duties  and  engagements.  May  I  know 
that  a  simple  faith  in  Jesus  is  the  great 
secret  of  victory  over  the  world.  Oh, 
may  the  trembling  magnet  of  my  vac- 
illating affections  be  ever  pointing  to 
Him,  and  then  I  shall  be  made  "  more 
than  conqueror." 

Through  His  all-prevailing  merits  and 
advocacy,  hear  my  prayer.  In  His 
most  precious  blood,  forgive  all  my  sins. 
By  His  indwelling  grace,  sanctify  my 
nature,  that  my  whole  body,  soul,  and 
spirit,  may  be  preserved  blameless  until 
His  coming.     Amen. 

"  CAUSE  ME   TO  HEAR  THY  LOVIXG-KIXDNESS  IN   IHB 
MOHNING,  von   IN  THKK  DO   I   TllV:ft." 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  61 


15th  MORMNtt 

"  0  Lord,  in  the  morniug  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

<<  Search  me,  0  God,  and  know  my  heart." — 
Ps.  cxxxix.  23. 

..5-,  0  ETERNAL,  GTerlastiiig 

mimn    ^.^^   ^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^ 

mtm^  nf  ^rlf.  ^^^^^  enlightened  my 
eyes,  and  suffered  me  not  to  sleep  the 
sleep  of  death,  bestow  upon  me  this 
day  the  riches  of  Thy  grace  and  love. 
Morning  after  morning  is  dawning  upon 
me,  with  new  tokens  of  Thy  mercy. 
Oh,  may  these  be  bringing  me  nearer 
the  glorious  day  which  is  to  know  no 
night — that  eternal  noon-tide,  when  all 
shadows  and  darkness  are  for  ever  to 
flee  away ! 

Lord,  I  am  unworthy  to  come  into 
Thy  presence,  and  yet  I  have  to  mourn 
that  I  do  not  feel  this  deep  unworthiness 
as  I  ought.  I  am  unwilling  to  see  into 
tiie   unknown   depths  of  my  sin.     I  do 


62  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

not  know  myself.  I  have  no  depres- 
sing consciousness  of  the  desperate 
wickedness  of  my  own  evil  heart.  I 
liave  buried  many  bypast  transgressions 
in  oblivion.  I  have  deluded  myself 
with  the  thought,  that  many  were  too 
trivial  and  unimportant  lo  incur  Thy 
disapproval.  Even  any  imperfect  good 
which  Thy  grace  has  enabled  me  to  per- 
form I  have  been  too  prone  to  take  the 
merit  to  myself,  instead  of  ascribing  all 
the  praise  to  Thee.  There  has  been 
pride  in  my  humility.  There  have  been 
mingled  motives  in  my  best  services. 
My  best  resolutions  have  been  fitful  and 
transient.  My  purest  and  most  disin- 
terested actions  could  not  stand  the 
scrutiny  of  thine  eye.  The  holiest  day 
I  ever  spent,  were  I  to  be  judged  by  it, 
would  condemn  me. 

0  Thou  who  "  searchest  Jerusalem 
with  lighted  candles,"  do  Thou  "  search 
my  heart."  Bring  me  to  the  publican's 
place  of  peni tent i 0,1  sorrow,  exclaimingt 


THE    MORNING   WATCHES.  63 

in  sell'-renoimcing  Immility,  "  God  be 
merciful  to  me  a  sinner !" 

I  would  seek  to  make  a  more  entire 
and  undivided  surrender  of  all  I  am  and 
bare  to  Thee.  Give  me  such  an  awful 
and  affecting  sense  of  my  vileness,  that 
I  may  never  feel  safe  but  when  close  by 
the  atoning  Fountain,  drawing  out  of  it 
hourly  supplies.  May  mine  be  a  daily 
heart  and  self  and  sin  crucifixion — an 
eternal  severance  from  those  bosom  trai- 
tors which  have  so  long  separated  be- 
tween me  and  my  God.  Make  me  more 
zealous  for  Thy  honour  and  glory — 
"  Cleanse  Thou  the  thoughts  of  my  heart, 
by  the  inspiration  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit " 
— "  Let  no  iniquity  obtain  dominion 
over  me."  But  may  it  be  my  daily  am- 
bition to  become  more  like  to  Thee,  re- 
flecting more  of  the  image,  and  imbibing 
more  of  the  spirit,  of  my  Divine  Re- 
deemer, that  thus  the  atmosphere  of 
holiness  and  of  heaven  may  be  diffused 
all  around  me.     May  my  own  soul  be 


64  TRE   MORNING  WATCHES. 

pervaded  with  lofty  and  purified  aspira- 
tions. May  I  be  enabled  to  exhibit  to 
the  world  the  felt  happiness  of  close 
walking  with  God. 

And  do  Thou,  gracious  Father,  "  send 
forth  Thy  light  and  Thy  truth"  to  a 
darkened  world.  May  Thine  own  an- 
cient people  be  speedily  gathered  in  with 
the  fulness  of  the  Gentile  nations,  that 
all  the  ends  of  the  earth  may  see  the 
salvation  of  God. 

Bless  all  my  dear  friends,  near  or  dis- 
tant. May  they  have  the  heritage  of 
those  that  fear  Thy  name.  Defend 
them  now  by  Thy  mighty  power,  and 
at  last  number  them  with  Thy  saints  in 
glory  everlasting.     Amen, 

"  CAUSE  MK  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING  KINDNESS  IN  THE 
MOKNINO,  FOR  IN  THEE  DO  I  TRUST," 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  65 


16ra  MoR-NTwa. 

"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  diiect  my  prayer 
unto  The3." 

"  Tliat  I  may  know  Him. "—Phil.  ili.  10. 

^  ^^  .  I ,  Blessed  Jesus  ! — Suu 
fnti6ngblfr  of  my  soul  "-Light  of 
■6\m\d  3rSttS.  ^y  •Hfe!_do  Thou 
shine  upon  me  this  morning  with  the 
"  brightness  of  Thy  rising."  May  I  en- 
joy this  day  union  and  communion  with 
Thee.  May  a  sense  of  Thy  favour  per- 
vade all  its  duties,  sanctify  its  blessings, 
and  lighten  its  trials.  May  it  be  to  me 
the  sweetest  and  holiest  of  all  thoughts, 
that  Thou  art  ever  with  me — tluit, 
though  unseen  to  the  eye  of  senjie,  the 
eye  of  faith  can  discern  Tliy  gracious 
presence  and  the  manifestations  of  Thy 
nearness  and  Love.  May  the  realised 
assurance,  that  Thou  art  thus  at  my  side, 
dispel  every  misgiving,  and  dry  every 
tear.  May  I  hear  Thee,  even  now,  say- 
ing unto  me,  "Lo,  I  am  with  vou  " — I 
5 


66  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

am  with  you  now —  I  shall  be  with  yon 
"  alway  " — and  when  the  world  is  ended 
"  I  will "  that  you  "  be  with  me  where  T 
am,  that  you  may  behold  my  glory  !  " 

0  adorable  Saviour,  liow  sadly  is  Thy 
beauty  obscured  from  my  view,  by  rea- 
son of  my  own  sin !  How  feebly  do  I 
apprehend  the  mystery  of  Thy  love — 
the  glories  of  Thy  person — the  perfec- 
tion of  Thine  atonement !  Hide  me  in 
the  clefts  of  the  rock,  and  while  there, 
"  I  beseech  Thee,  show  me  Thy  glory." 
May  every  fresh  glimpse  of  "  the  great 
love  wherewith  thou  hast  loved  me  "  re- 
buke the  lukewarmness  of  my  own.  May 
I  covet  a  closer  walk  with  Thee.  May 
my  existence  be  one  continued  Emmaus 
journey —  its  hours  passing  joyously  by 
because  happy  in  the  presence  and  con- 
verse of  a  risen  Redeemer.  Blessed 
Jesus,  "  abide  with  me,"  for  the  day  is 
"  far  spent."  Let  me  walk  with  Thee  in 
newness  of  life.  May  I  breathe  Thy 
spirit  of  holy  submission — of  cheerful 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  67 

obedience — of  patience  under  injuries. 
May  I  not  repine  at  bearing  the  cross, 
so  meekly  borne  for  me  ;  nor  murmnr  at 
my  trials,  when  I  think  of  Thine.  May 
[  be  enabled  to  make  every  lineament 
of  Thy  spotless  character  my  daily  study, 
so  as  gradually  to  be  transformed  into 
the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory — 
looking  forward  to  that  blessed  time 
when  I  shall  see  Thee  without  one  stain 
of  remaining  sin  to  dim  the  contempla- 
tion, and  when  I  shall  be  permitted  to 
bathe  in  the  ocean  of  Thine  eternal  love. 

I  thank  Thee  for  the  mercies  of  the 
bypast  night.  Give  me  to  reckon  every 
new  day  a  fresh  gift  of  Thy  dying  grace 
— to  regard  all  its  hours  as  redeemed 
hours — every  moment  as  "  bought  with 
a  price."  May  these  days,  and  hours, 
and  moments,  thus  stamped  with  the 
cross,  be  consecrated  more  than  ever  to 
Thy  praise. 

A.gain  I  beseech  Thee,  "  abide  with 
me."      "  Where  Thou  goest  I  will  go  ; 


68  THE    MORNING    WATCHES. 

and  where  Tliou  dwellest  I  will  dwell." 
Abide  Avith  me  from  morning  to  even 
in 2;,  and  from  evening  to  morning  again 
"  Without  Thee  I  cannot  live"—"  with 
out  Thee  I  dare  not  die."  Living  or 
dying,  Lord,  I  would  seek  to  be  Thine 
Forgive  all  my  many  sins,  and  when 
the  feeble  glimpses  of  a  feeble  love  on 
earth  are  at  an  end,  bring  me  at  last  to 
enjoy  brighter  views  of  Thee  in  glory 
everlasting.     Amen. 


"  OAUBH   MB  TO  HBAR  THY   LOVING- KIN  DN1I88   IN   TES 

mohmino,  fob  m  thee  do  i  trust." 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  69 


17th  Morning 

**  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  They  shall  behold  the  land  that  is  very  far  off." — 
Isaiah  xxxiii.  17. 

^      ^  0  God,  in  the  multi- 

/nrJtnttr  tude  of  Thy  mercies 
MimS  nf  Irnntn.  i  am  again  permitted 
to  see  the  light  of  a  new  day.  With 
another  rising  morn  do  Thou  scatter 
all  the  clouds  of  sin  and  unbelief  from 
ray  soul.  Unfold  to  my  view  bright 
glimpses  of  Thyself — sweet  foretastes  of 
those  joys  which  "  eye  hath  not  seen, 
nor  ear  heard." 

Here,  Lord,  I  have  "  no  continuing 
city" — change  is  my  portion  in  this  the 
house  of  my  pilgrimage — "  I  would  not 
live  always."  I  am  "  willing  rather  to 
be  absent  from  the  body  and  to  be 
present  with  the  Lord."  Wean  me  from 
this  uncertain  world.  Bring  me  to  live 
under  the  powers  of  a  world  to  come. 
T  rejoice  to  think  of  the  happy  myriads 


70  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

already  in  glory — "  clothed  in  white 
robes,  with  palms  in  their  hands" — safe 
in  the  presence  of  the  Master  they  love, 
with  every  tear-drop  wiped  away.  1 
rryjoice  to  know  that  the  blood  and 
grace  to  which  they  owe  tlieir  crowns 
are  still  free  as  ever.  Oh,  may  I  be  en- 
abled, with  some  good  measure  of  tri- 
umphant assurance,  to  say,  "  Henceforth 
there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of 
righteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  right- 
eous Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day." 
May  the  thought  of  that  endless,  sinless, 
sorrowless  immortality  reconcile  me  to 
all  earth's  severest  discipline.  Let  me 
not  murmur  under  the  heaviest  cross  in 
the  prospect  of  such  a  crown.  Let  me 
not  refuse  to  pass  cheerfully  through  the 
hottest  furnace  which  is  to  refine  and 
purify  me  for  this  "  exceeding  weight  of 
glory  ;"  but  bear  with  calm  equanimity 
whatever  Thou  seest  meet  to  lay  upon 
me.  "  Weeping  may  endure  for  a  night, 
but  joy  Cometh  in  the  morning." 


THE   MORNING   'VATCHES.  71 

Lord,  grant  tliat  the  approach  of  eter- 
nity may  urge  me  to  greater  diligence 
in  Thy  service.  May  I  have  my  loins 
girded  and  my  lamp  burning.  May  I 
spend  each  day,  and  this  day,  as  if  it 
were  to  be  my  last.  When  the  shadows 
of  evening  gather  around  me,  may  I  feel 
that  I  have  spent  a  day  for  God.  Near- 
er a  dying  hour— may  it  find  me  nearer 
heaven. 

What  I  ask  for  myself  I  would  seek 
in  behalf  of  all  my  beloved  friends. 
Sprinkle  each  heart  with*  the  blood  of 
the  covenant.  May  every  eye  be  directed 
to  Jesus,  and  every  footstep  be  pointing 
heavenward.  Though  severed  from  one 
another  now,  may  we  not  be  found 
gathered  in  different  bundles  on  the 
great  reaping-day  of  judgment. 

Lord,  unite  Thine  own  people  more 
and  more.  Why  should  we  be  guilty  of 
such  sad  estrangements,  crossing  andre^ 
crossing  one  another  on  life's  highway 
with  alien  and  jealous  looks,  when  pro- 


72  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

fessing  to  be  sprinkled  with  the  same 
blood,  to  bear  the  same  name,  and  be 
heirs  of  the  same  inheritance  ?  Let  me 
live  near  to  Jesus,  and  then  I  shall  livo 
near  all  His  people,  looking  forward  to 
that  blessed  time  when  we  shall  see  eje 
to  eye  and  heart  to  heart — no  jarring 
or  discordant  note  to  mar  the  everlast- 
ing ascription  of  "  blessing,  and  honour, 
and  glory,  and  power,  unto  Him  that 
sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  tho 
Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever."     Ameu. 


"  0ATJ8E  MB  TO  inCAB  THY   LOVINO-KIKDNIBS  IN  TID! 
J40KNU«a,  Fee  IN  THEa  DO  I  TRUST." 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  73 


IS'IU    MOK.VIXG. 

*'0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

'"Tliere  is  none  upon  earth  that  I  desire  besides  Thee." — 
Ps.  Ixxiii.  25. 

,^     ^.^       V  0  Lord,  thou  blessed 

hx  WranrhllM  fo„,,tain  of  all  happi. 
frDin  \^t  £nntnrr.  nessandjoy,doThon 
draw  near  to  me  this  morning  in  Thy 
great  mercy.  All  creature-comforts  are 
emanations  from  Thee.  Thy  favour  is 
life — Thy  displeasure  is  worse  than 
death.  In  losing  Thee  we  lose  our 
all — in  having  Thee,  we  can  want  noth- 
ing. 

1  have  to  acknowledge,  with  shame 
and  confusion  of  face,  that  I  have  not 
thus  been  seeking  my  true  enjoyment 
iu  Thee.  I  have  been  in  pursuit  of  fleet- 
ing shadows,  which  one  by  one  have 
eluded  my  grasp.  I  have  been  worsliip- 
ping  and  serving  the  creature  more  than 
the  Creator,  who  is  "  God  over  all, 
blessed  for  evermore."     Lord,  brin?  me 


74  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

to  see  tliat  nothing  short  of  Thyself  can 
satisfy  the  longings  and  desires  of  ray 
immortal  nature.  Wean  me  from  what 
is  perishable.  .  Let  me  reverentially  ac- 
quiesce in  whatever  means  Thou  mayest 
employ  to  bring  my  wandering  heart 
back  to  Thee,  0  thou  alone-satisfying 
portion  of  my  soul.  Rather,  Lord, 
would  I  submit  to  the  hardest  discipline 
than  listen  to  the  withering  words, 
"  Ephraim  is  joined  to  idols  :  let  him 
alone."  Let  me  feel  that  Thy  presence 
and  love  can  compensate  for  the  loss  of 
all  earthly  joys.  As  prop  after  prop 
which  has  gladdened  my  pilgrimage 
totters  and  falls,  may  I  know  what  it  is 
to  "  dwell  in  the  secret  place  of  the 
Most  High,  and  to  abide  under  the 
shadow  of  the  Almighty."  As  Tliou  art 
ever  proclaiming  over  creaturo-conh- 
dence,  "  Dust  thou  art,  and  unto  dust 
shalt  thou  return,"  may  I  know  what  it 
is  to  cleave  to  One  who  is  better  and 
surer  than  the  nearest  oiid  dearest  ou 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  75 

earth— the  Friend  that  never  fails,  and 
never  wearies,  and  never  dies — "  Jesu3 
Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day, 
and  for  ever." 

Blessed  Saviour,  I  devolve  my  every 
care  on  Thee.  Thou  art  noting  now  on 
the  throne  the  pangs  and  sorrows  of 
every  burdened  heart.  All  other  love  is 
imperfect.  All  other  sympathy  is  selfish 
but  Thine.  May  my  affections  be  con- 
secrated to  Thee.  May  it  be  my  joy 
to  serve  Thee — my  privilege  to  follow 
Thee,  and,  if  need  be,  to  suffer  with 
Thee.  May  every  cross  lose  its  bitter- 
ness by  having  Thee  at  my  side.  May 
I  feel  that  nothing  but  absence  from 
Thee  can  create  a  real  blank  in  my 
heart.  Thy  presence  takes  the  sting 
from  all  afflictions,  and  imparts  security 
in  the  midst  of  all  troubles.  Living  or 
dying,  may  T  be  Thine. 

Sprinkle  me  this  new  morning  with 
the  blood  of  the  covenant.  May  I  feel 
all    throughout    the    day   the   joy   of 


76  THE   MOENING   WATCHES. 

being  reconciled  to  God.  May  my 
heart  be  made  a  little  sanctuary  of 
praise.  May  I  breathe  the  atmosphere 
of  heaven.  May  God  himself  be  so 
enthroned  in  my  affections,  that  I  may 
be  enabled  to  say,  in  comparison  with 
Him,  of  all  that  the  world  can  give, 
"  There  is  none  upon  the  earth  that  I 
desire  besides  Thee." 

Heavenly  Father,  I  leave  all  that  be- 
longs to  me  to  Thee — "  Undertake  Thou 
for  them."  Bless  them  and  make  them 
blessings.  "  Hide  them  under  the  shadow 
of  Thy  wings  "  until  earth's  "  calamities 
be  overpast."  Hear  this  my  morning 
supplication  ;  and  when  thou  hearest, 
forgive.  And  all  1  ask  is  for  Jesus'  sake. 
Amen. 


CATTSE  ME  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING  KINDNESS  IN  ' 
MORNING,  FOR  IN  THEE  DO  I  TRUST." 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  77 


19tu  Mjekuto. 

'*0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

*'  He  givetli  grace  unto  the  humble." — 1  Put.  v.  5. 

^  .^  ,.  0  God,  Thou  art  "  tlio 
/nt  Crnte  1^.,.^^  and  the  lofty  One 

nt  itIllIU.  ^j^Q  inhabiteth  eternity." 
There  is  no  being  truly  great  but  Thee. 
All  other  excellence  and  glory  is  derived 
— Thine  is  under ived.  All  else  is  finite 
—Thine  is  infinite.  The  burning  ser- 
aph nearest  Thy  throne  is  the  humblest 
of  all  Thy  creatures,  because  he  gets  the 
nearest  view  of  the  majesty  of  Thy 
glory. 

Lord,  fill  my  soul  this  morning  with 
suitable  views  of  Thy  greatness,  and  a 
humbling  estimate  of  my  own  nothing- 
ness. I  would  lie  low  at  Thy  feet — in 
wonder  and  amazement  that  dust  and 
ashes  should  be  permitted  to  approach 
that  Being  whom  angels  worship  with 
folded   wings,  and  in  whose  sight  the 


78  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

very  "  heavens  are  not  clean."  Repress 
every  proud,  self-glorying  imagination. 
Let  me  feel  I  cannot  abase  myself 
enough  in  Thy  presence.  "  Lord,  I  am 
vile ;  what  can  I  answer  Thee  ?"  My 
])est  thoughts,  how  polluted ! — my  best 
services,  how  imperfect ! — my  best  affec- 
tions, how  lukewarm ! — my  best  prayers, 
how  cold ! — my  best  hours,  were  I  judged 
by  them,  how  would  I  be  condemned ! 

I  desire  to  take  refuge  at  the  cross  of 
a  crucified  Saviour.  Here,  Lord,  give 
me  that  grace  Thou  hast  promised  to 
the  lowly.  Self-renouncing  and  sin-re- 
nouncing, I  would  seek  to  be  exalted 
only  in  Jesus,  crying  out,  "  God  be  mer- 
ciful to  me  a  sinner !"  In  broken-heart- 
edness  of  soul,  I  mourn  the  past.  Dis- 
trustful of  the  future,  I  look  only  to 
Thee.  Full  of  my  own  unworthiness,  I 
turn  to  the  infinitely  worthy  One.  I  seek 
to  be  washed  in  His  blood — sanctified 
by  His  Spirit — guided  by  His  counsel — • 
depending  on  Him  for  every  supply  of 


THE    MOIiNlNG    WATCHES.  79 

grace — and  feeling  that  without  Him  1 
must  perish. 

May  I  take  the  humility  and  gentlo 
ness  of  Jesus  as  my  pattern.  Like  HiDi, 
may  I  be  meek  and  lowly  in  heart. 
Give  me  grace  to  avoid  ostentation  and 
pride,  haughtiness  and  vanity,  envy  and 
uncharitableness.  "In  lowliness  of  mind 
may  I  esteem  others  better  than  my- 
self." Let  me  realize  every  moment 
that  I  am  a  pensioner  on  Divine  bounty 
— that  I  am  alike  "  for  temporals  and 
spirituals"  dependent  on  Thee — and  that 
it  well  becomes  me  to  be  "  clothed  with 
humility."  Oh,  let  me  meekly  and  sub- 
missively lose  my  own  will  in  Thine,  in 
childlike  teachableness,  saying — "What 
wilt  Tliou  have  me  to  do?"  May  no 
murmur  escape  my  lips  at  Thy  dealings. 
May  this  lowliness  of  spirit  lead  me 
rather  to  wonder  at  Thy  sparing  mercy, 
that  the  great  and  holy  Being  I  have 
provoked  so  long  by  my  rebellion  lias 
not  "cut  me  down." 


80  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

Bless  all  connected  to  me  by  endear- 
ing bonds.  May  nature's  ties  be  made 
doubly  strong  by  those  of  covenant 
grace.  Bless  Thy  cause  and  kingdom 
in  the  world.  May  Thy  Spirit  descend 
"  like  rain  upon  the  mown  grass,  and 
showers  that  water  the  earth." 

I  commit  myself  unto  Thee,  and  to 
the  word  of  Thy  grace.  Guide  me  this 
day  by  Thy  counsel.  May  I  spend  it 
as  if  it  were  to  be  my  last.  And  when 
my  last  day  does  arrive,  may  it  be  to  me 
the  eve  of  a  happy  eternity.  And  all  I 
af<k  is  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


•  CAUSE  MK  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING-KINDXESS  VS  IHB 
MOENING,  FOR   Of    THER  DO   1  THCOT-" 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  81 


20th    MOKSING. 


"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

'<  Only  believe."— Mark  v.  36. 

iC,>.  <;t««i;.;+,,  ^  eternal,  ever-blessed 
^"fflf.5*l  Jehovah-Fountain  of 
DI  .^aiip.  ^ij  light-Source  of  all 
happiness — "  God  of  all  grace" — look 
down  upon  me  this  morning  with  that 
love  which  "  Thou  bearest  to  Thine 
own,"  as  I  venture  anew  into  Thy  sacred 
presence.  Let  me  enjoy  a  sweet  season 
of  fellowship  with  Thee.  Let  the  world 
be  shut  out,  and  may  I  feel  alone  with 
God.  "Under  the  shadow  of  Thy 
wings  would  I  rejoice." 

I  come  in  the  nothingness  of  the 
creature,  standing  alone  in  the  fulness 
of  Jesus.  I  come,  "  just  as  I  am,  with- 
out one  plea" — as  a  sinner,  and  as  the 
"chief  of  sinners" — to  Thee,  thou  al- 
mighty Saviour.  I  seek  to  disown  all 
creature  confidence,  and,  with  all  the 
6 


82  THE    MORNING    WATCHES. 

burden  of  my  guilt,  to  cast  myself,  for 
time  and  for  eternity,  at  Thy  feet. 
"  Lord,  save  me,  else  I  perish."  I  can- 
not stand  in  myself.  I  can  stand  only 
in  Him  who  has  stood  so  willing  a  Sure- 
ty for  me — who  is  still  at  the  right 
hand  of  the  Majesty  in  the  heavens,  pre- 
senting my  name,  and  my  prayers,  and 
my  plea,  before  the  throne.  I  hove  no 
other  confidence,  and  I  need  no  other. 
Jesus,  I  am  complete  in  Thee.  Let  me 
not  look  inwardly  on  mypelf,  where  there 
is  everything  to  sink  me  in  despondency 
and  dismay  ;  but  let  me  look  with  the 
undivided  and  unwavering  eye  of  faith 
to  Thy  bleeding  sacrifice.  I  rejoice  to 
think  of  the  many  robes  in  the  Church 
triumphant  Thy  blood  has  already  made 
white.  I  rejoice  to  know  tliat  the  sauie 
blood  is  free  as  ever — the  same  invita- 
tion is  addressed  as  ever — the  promise 
and  the  Promisor  remain  "faithful"  as 
ever — "  Him  that  cometh  unto  me  I  will 
in  no  wise  cast  out." 


THE    MORNING    WATCHES.  83 

Lord,  I  come — I  plead  Thy  word.  1 
come,  irrespective  of  all  I  am,  and  ail  I 
have  been.  Magnify  Thy  grace  in  me. 
Show  mo  my  utter  beggary  and  wretch- 
edness by  nature — that  every  step  to 
glory  is  a  step  of  grace  ;  and  while,  with 
childlike  faith,  I  rest  on  the  finished 
work  of  Jesus,  may  I  have  the  same  sim- 
ple trust  and  confidence  in  all  His  deal- 
ings towards  me.  May  I  feel  that  the 
Shepherd  of  Israel  cannot  lead  me 
wrong — that  His  own  way  must  be  the 
safest  and  the  best.  Lord,  "  undertake 
Thou  for  me''—"  I  will  follow  Thee  to 
prison  and  to  death."  Take  me — lead 
me — use  me,  as  Thou  seest  good.  If  I 
need  chastisement,  give  me  chastisement. 
If  I  need  rebuke,  let  me  not  repine  un- 
der the  rod.  Let  me  trust  a  Father's 
word — a  Father's  love — a  Father's  dis- 
cipline. "  Though  Thou  slay  me,  yet 
will  I  trust  in  Thee." 

And  as  lor  myself,  so  for  all  dear  to 
me.     I  pray  that  it  may  please  Thee,  of 


84  THE    MORNING   WATCHES. 

Thine  infinite  mercy,  to  visit  them  with 
Thy  salvation — to  guide  them  by  Thy 
counsel — to  overrule  all  life's  changes 
and  vicissitudes  and  trials  for  their  well- 
l)eing,  and  at  last  to  bring  them  safe  to 
Tliine  eternal  kingdom,  through  Jesus 
Christ — to  whom,  with  Thee,  0  Father, 
and  Thee,  0  eternal  Spirit,  three  in  one 
in  covenant  for  our  redemption,  be  as- 
cribed all  blessing,  and  honour,  and 
glory,  and  praise,  world  without  end. 
Amen. 


OiCSE  MB  TO  HKAR  THT  LOVING-KINDNEBS  IN  IHB 
KOBNIKa,  rOK  IN  TDEK  DO  I  TEUST." 


TEE   MORNING   WATCHES.  S5 


21  ST  MORSINU. 


"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  Walk  v\x>rthy  of  the  Lord  unto  all  pleasing."— Col.  i.  10. 

itr,v  rn«.«v+^t..«  ^  Lord,  Tliou  art  the 
M  ^ ra  tmil  heart-searching  and  the 
"^  *^^""'^-  rein-trying  God.  To 
Tliee  all  hearts  are  open — from  Thee 
no  secrets  are  hid.  Cleanse  Thou  the 
thoughts  of  my  heart  this  day,  by  the 
inspiration  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit.  I  would 
seek  to  beg-in  its  hours  with  Thee.  May 
all  its  business  and  employments  be  per- 
fumed with  the  fragrance  of  "  the  morn- 
ing sacrifice." 

0  Thou  great  origin  and  end  of  all 
things,  be  Thou  to  me  the  Alpha  and 
the  Omega  of  my  daily  being.  May  I 
feel  existence  to  be  a  blank  without 
Thee.  May  I  feel  that  I  can  only 
be  truly  happy  when  a  sense  of  Thy 
favour,  and  friendship,  and  love  is 
s\veetly  intermingled  with  life's  duties — 


86  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

thus  lessening  every  Ijiirden — hallowing 
every  trial — diminishing  every  cross  ! 

T  come  to  Thee  once  more,  an  un- 
worthy sinner,  to  cast  myself  at  my 
Saviour's  feet.  What  am  I,  that  Tliou 
shouldst  have  borne  with  me  so  long  I 
The  axe  "  laid  at  the  root  of  the  trees" 
might  long  ago  have  cut  me  down  ; 
but  I,  a  guilty  cumberer,  am  still 
spared.  The  restrospect  of  existence, 
while  a  retrospect  of  patience  and  for- 
bearance on  Thy  part,  is  one  of  mourn- 
ful rebellion  and  ingratitude  on  mine. 
I  have  had  a  "  name  to  live,"  but  how 
much  spiritual  death  in  my  best  frames ! 
T  have  had  a  form  of  godliness  ;  how 
little  have  I  lived  out  and  acted  out  its 
power!  More  careful  have  I  been  to 
appear  to  be  a  Christian  than  really  to 
he  a  Christian.  How  much  unevenness 
in  my  walk — how  much  proclaimed  and 
professed  by  the  lip  has  been  undone 
and  denied  in  the  life ! 

I  come  this  morning  to  ask  anew  for 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  87 

mercy  to  pardon,  and  grace  to  help 
me.  Especially  do  Thou  give  me 
the  grace  of  a  holy  consistency,  doing 
all  for  Thy  glory,  having  boldness  to 
speak  for  Thee  in  the  world.  May  my 
walk  and  conversation  be  the  living 
evidence  and  expression  of  the  sincerity 
and  reality  of  the  inner  life. 

For  this  end  may  I  live  more  on 
Jesus.  May  my  life  be  "hid  with 
Christ  in  God."  May  I  grow  more  and 
more  out  of  myself  and  into  my  living 
Head.  Self-humbled  and  self-emptied, 
may  I  ever  be  resorting  to  the  all-ful- 
ness of  an  all-sufficient  Saviour.  May 
this  be  my  habitual  feeling — "  Without 
Him  I  can  do  nothing."  May  this  be 
my  constant  prayer — "  Help  me,  Sav- 
iour, or  I  die." 

May  I  be  enabled  this  day,  in  His 
strength,  to  do  something  for  God. 
However  lowly  my  lot,  however  humble 
my  abilities,  may  I  feel.  Lord,  that  Thou 
hast  work  for  me  in  Thy  vineyard.    Let 


88  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

me  aot  bury  my  talent  in  the  earth  ; 
may  I  ''  occupy  it  till  Thou  come,"  that 
"Thou  mayest  receive  thine  own  with 
usury/' 

Ha^e  mercy  on  Thy  whole  Church. 
Pour  out  on  all  its  members  and  office- 
bearers the  spirit  of  meekness  and  zeal, 
of  power  and  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind. 
May  "  Holiness  to  the  Lord"  be  written 
on  its  portals. 

Hasten  the  blessed  period  when,  the 
love  of  Jesus  being  enthroned  in  every 
heart  and  every  Church,  "  we  all  shall 
be  one."  And  all  I  ask  is  for  the  Ko- 
deemer^s  sake.    Amen. 

««  OArSE  ME  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING -KINDNESS  IN  DID 
MORXJNO,  FOB  IN  THEB  DO  I  IHUST." 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  89 


22d  Morning. 

*  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 

unto  Thee." 

"  This  one  thing  I  do."— Phil.  iii.  13. 

jCm,.  4;,..rinttn.v    My  Father  wlio  ai't  111 
nf  iPnr>  heaven,   teach   me,   m 

^^^^i^-  childlike  faitli  and  con- 

fidonce,  to  draw  near  this  morning  to 
Thy  throne  of  grace.  Vouchsafe  me  the 
blessed  influences  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit, 
that  I  may  wait  on  Thee  undisturbed  by 
worldly  distractions,  and  enter  on  the 
duties  of  another  day  with  my  mind 
"  stayed  on  God." 

Blessed  Jesus! — Thou  who  didst  so 
freely  give  Thyself  a  ransom  for  many 
— save  me,  else  I  perish !  I  have  no 
peace  but  in  Thy  pardoning,  reconciling 
love.  May  Thy  blood  and  righteous- 
ness be  to  me  "  a  glorious  dress,"  ar- 
rayed in  which  I  may  now  and  ever 
stand  fearless  and  undismayed.  I  bless 
Thee,  0  God,  if  I  have  in  any  degree 
felt  the  preciousness  of  the  Saviour,  and 


90  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

Ilis  adaptation  to  all  the  wants  and 
woaltnesses  of  my  sinful,  and  sorrowful, 
and  tempted  nature.  I  tliank  Thee  if 
Thou  hast  already  hidden  me  in  the 
clefts  of  the  smitten  Rock.  My  i)rayer 
is,  that  Thou  may  est  keep  me  there — 
that  I  may  lean  upon  Jesus  more  than 
ever,  and  seek  my  happiness  more  exclu- 
sively in  His  service.  May  I  every 
morning  be  drawn  more  closely  by  the 
cords  of  His  love,  and  be  led  to  fight 
more  faithfully  under  His  banner. 

Oh  for  greater  singleness  of  aim ! — 
more  self-emptying  and  self-abasing — 
that  He  may  be  all  in  all !  Lord,  I  am 
conscious  often  of  mingled  motives,  that 
would  not  stand  the  test  of  Thy  pure 
eye  and  Thy  holy  Word !  How  often 
do  I  forfeit  the  joys  of  assurance  by  ad- 
milting  rival  claimants  to  the  throne  of 
my  affections!  How  often  are  the  sur- 
passing interests  and  glories  of  eternity 
dimmed  and  obscured  by  the  engrossing 
things  of  time  and  of  sense  !   How  mixed 


THE    MORNING   WATCHES.  91 

with  imperfection  and  eartliliuess  and 
self-seeking  are  my  best  attempts  to 
serve  Tiiee!  If  weighed  in  tlie  bahance, 
how  would  my  holiest  servic^es  be  found 
wanting ! 

Give  me  more  of  this  unity  and  sim- 
plicity of  purpose.  Give  me  to  make 
salvation  more  the  one  thing  needful. 
Let  all  other  love  be  subordinated  to 
Thine.  Do  Thou  be  my  "  chiefest  joy." 
May  Thy  service  be  my  delight.  May 
my  heart  become  a  little  sanctuary, 
whence  the  incense  of  praise  and  love 
and  thanksgiving  is  ascending  continu- 
ally. May  it  glow  with  holy  zeal  to 
promote  Thy  cause,  and  testify  of  Thy 
grace.  Remembering  all  that  Thou 
hast  done  for  me,  may  I  be  animated  to 
make  a  more  entire  consecration  and 
surrender  of  all  I  am  and  have  to  Thy 
glory. 

Let  me  feel  that  whatever  my  rank 
or  station  or  circumstances  are,  I  have 
bome  mission  to  perform  for  Thee.  How 


92  THE   MORNING    WATCHES. 

often  dost  Thou  clioose  "  the  foolish 
things  of  the  world  to  confound  the 
tilings  that  are  mighty  !  "  Let  me  not 
think  my  talent  too  trifling  to  trade 
upon.  May  I  "  occupy  it  till  my  Lord 
comes."  Let  me  not  squander  fleeting 
moments,  or  forego  fleeting  opportuni- 
ties. "  The  night  cometh,  wherein  none 
of  us  can  work."  Enable  me  now,  bow- 
ing at  Thy  mercy-seat,  to  replenish  anew 
my  empty  vessel  with  the  oil  of  Thy 
grace,  that  the  lamp  of  faith  may  be 
kept  burning  brightly  all  the  day.  All 
that  I  ask  is  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


"  CAUSE    ME   TO   HEAR   THY   L0VIX(1!-KINDNES3    IN 
MOBSDia,  FOE   IN   THEK  DO  I    TRUST." 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  93 


23d  MoRNixa. 

"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 

unto  Thee." 

"  Abba,  Father."— Rod  I.  viiL  15. 

^      p.|.  I     Most  blessed  God,  I  ro- 

iirnnitSS  ^^  Thee,  the  mightiest  of 
all  beings,  and  call  Thee  by  that  name, 
which  may  well  dispel  all  misgivings, 
and  hush  all  disquietudes—"  My  Father 
who  axt  in  heaven." 

Father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven 
and  in  Thy  sight.  The  kindest  of  earthly 
parents  could  not  so  long  have  borne 
with  ingratitude  and  waywardness  like 
mine.  Long  ere  now  Thou  mightest 
righteously  have  driven  me  an  exile  and 
a  castaway  from  Thy  presence.  But  the 
voice  of  parental  mercy  is  not  silenced. 
The  hand  of  parental  patience  and  love 
is  "  stretched  out  still."  In  the  midst  of 
deserved  wrath,  this  is  Thine  own  gra- 
cious declaration,  *'  T  will  be  a  Father 
unto  you  I" 


94  TJfE    MORNING    WATCHES. 

I  mourn  my  grievous  departures — 
my  repeated  declensions — my  heinous 
ingratitude.  Oh,  let  me  no  longer  live 
in  this  state  of  guilty  estrangement — 
forfeiting  all  the  joys  of  a  Father's  ten- 
derness, the  sunshine  of  a  Father's  smile. 
May  I  know  what  it  is  for  the  soul,  or- 
phaned, and  portionless,  and  friendless 
by  nature,  to  repose  in  the  security  of 
Thy  covenant-love.  May  T  be  enabled 
to  enjoy  more  and  more,  every  day, 
holy  filial  nearness  to  the  mercy-seat — 
there  unburdening  into  Thine  eai  all 
my  wants  and  trials — my  sorrows  and 
perplexities — my  backslidings  and  sins. 
Grive  me  grace  to  bow  with  childlike 
submission  to  a  Father's  will — to  bear 
without  a  murmur  a  Father's  rod — to 
hear  in  every  dealing,  joyous  or  sorrow- 
ful, a  Father's  voice — and  when  death 
comes,  to  have  every  fear  dispelled  by 
listening  to  a  Father's  summons — "  To- 
day shaft  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise." 

Jesus,  Thou  blessed  Elder  Brother  1 


THE  MORNING   W.VTCflES.  95 

"  in  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven 
and  earth  is  named,'*  may  1  be  enabled 
to  imitate  Thine  example  of  holy  resig- 
nation to  Thy  Father's  will.  May  the 
cup  of  bitterest  earthly  sorrow  be  taken 
into  my  hands  with  Thine  own  ])reath- 
ing  of  devout  submission — "  This  cup 
which  Thou  givest  me  to  drink,  shall  1 
not  drink  it  ?  Even  so,  Father,  for  so  it 
seems  good  in  Thy  sight."  It  is  my 
comfort,  blessed  Lord,  to  know,  that 
while  the  best  of  earthly  parents  may 
err,  Thou,  the  unerring  God,  never 
canst.  In  thy  most  mysterious  dealings 
there  is  wisdom.  In  thy  roughest  voice 
there  is  mercy. 

Adorable  Redeemer,  all  these  filial 
blessings  and  adoption-privileges  I  owe 
to  Thee.  It  is  Thy  precious  blood- 
sliedding  which  has  "set  me  among  the 
children  " — it  is  that  which  still  keep? 
me  there,  xinew  this  day  would  I  repair 
to  Thy  cross — anew  would  I  supplicate 
that  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  Divine   Com- 


96  THE   MORNING    WATCHES. 

forter,  would  be  sent  forth  into  my  heart, 
enabling  me  to  cry,  "  Abba,  Father."" 
May  the  thought  of  this  blessed  affiance 
in  Thee,  support  me  amid  life's  fitful 
changes,  and  transient  friendships,  and 
may  I  be  enabled  to  dwell  with  holy  de- 
light on  that  glorious  time,  when,  no 
longer  an  exiled  pilgrim  in  a  strange 
land,  I  shall  be  received  at  the  gates  of 
glory  with  a  Father's  welcome — "  Son, 
thou  art  ever  with  me,  and  all  that  I 
have  is  thine." 

I  commend  myself  and  all  near  and 
dear  to  me,  this  day,  to  Thy  fatherly 
care  and  keeping.  And  all  I  ask  is  for 
Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


CAUSE  MK  TO  HEAR  THY  LO\TNG -KINDNESS  IN 
MORNING,  FOR   IN  THEE  DO  I  TROBT." 


THE    MORNING   WATCHES.  97 


24Tn  JIoRjfixu, 

**  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
untoThes." 

"  Restore  uuto  me  the  joy  of  Thy  salvation." — Ps.  li.  12. 

^  ^.  ,  ,.  0  God,  another  morn- 
/nrlxrBtoratlimi^^g  has  dawned  upon 
tatanor.  ^^^  "Thou  better  Sun 
of  rij^hteousness  " — with  the  brightness 
of  Thy  rising  may  all  the  shadows  of 
guilt  and  sin  be  dispersed.  I  come, 
weak  and  weary,  guilty  and  heavy- 
laden,  to  Thee,  beseeching  Thee  to  bend 
TJiy  pitying  eye  upon  me — to  deal  not 
with  me  as  I  have  deserved,  nor  reward 
me  according  to  mine  iniquity.  Blessed 
Jesus,  look  upon  me.  In  Thee  may  I 
be  pitied,  pardoned,  and  forgiven  ! 

I  have  erred  and  strayed  from  Thy 
way  as  a  lost  sheep.  I  have  wandered 
from  the  home  of  my  God.  I  have  been 
seeking  my  happiness  in  what  is  shadowy 
and  unreal.  The  world  and  its  delusive 
hopes   have  been    preferred   to   Thee. 


98  THE   MORNING    Wi\TCHES. 

My  heart,  which  ought  ever  to  be  a 
little  altar  and  sanctuary  of  praise,  has 
burned  with  false  incense.  Thy  love 
and  glory  have  not  maintained  tlieir 
paramount  place  in  my  affections.  1 
have  righteously  forfeited  "  the  joys 
of  Thy  salvation."  My  only  marvel  is, 
that,  as  a  wandering  star,  Thou  hast 
not  left  me  to  drift  onwards  to  the 
blackness  of  darkness  for  ever.  0  leave 
me  not  to  perish !  I  mourn  my  wander- 
ings. In  leaving  Thee,  I  feel  I  have 
left  my  Best  Friend.  I  have  caused  an 
aching  void  in  this  heart,  which  tho 
world,  with  all  its  joys  and  riches  and 
pleasures,  can  never  fill.  I  cannot  have 
one  hour  of  happiness,  if  mingled  with 
the  thought  that  I  am  estranged  from 
Thee,  my  God.  Blissful  hours  of  Thy 
fai  our  I  once  enjoyed,  come  sorrowfully 
to  my  remembrance  ;  and,  though  the 
cup  of  earthly  happiness  be  full  to  the 
brim,  I  have  still  to  breathe  the  prayer 
— "  Oh  that  it  were  with  me  as  in  months 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  99 

past,  when  the  candle  of  the  Lord  did 
shine !" 

"Restore  unto  me  the  joy  of  Thy 
salvation.  Leave  me  not  in  this  state 
of  distance  and  alienation.  "  0  Lord, 
I  beseech  Thee,  deliver  my  soul."  Snap 
these  chains  of  earthliness  that  are 
still  binding  me  to  the  dust,  that,  on 
the  wings  of  faith,  I  may  soar  upwards, 
and  find  rest  and  quietude  where  alone 
it  can  be  found — in  Thy  renewed  love 
and  favour.  May  past  backslidings 
drive  me  more  to  Thy  grace.  Nothing 
in  myself,  may  I  find  and  feel  that  my  all 
in  all  is  in  Thee.  Discover  to  me  my  own 
emptiness,  and  the  overflowing  fulness 
of  Jesus.  May  I  every  day  see  more 
of  His  matchless  excellencies — His  in- 
comparable loveliness — the  sweets  of 
His  service  —  that  I  may  never  feel 
tempted  to  wander  from  His  fold,  and 
carefully  avoid  all  that  would  risk  the 
forfeiture  of  that  favour  which  indeed 
is  "  life." 


100  THE   MORNING   WATCHES. 

Lord,  let  me  know  this  day  some- 
thing of  this  happiness.  Let  me  not  be 
content  with  the  name  to  live.  Let 
religion  be  with  me  a  real  thing — let 
it  be  everything  ;  life-influencing,  sin- 
subduing,  self-renouncing.  Let  me  dif  • 
fuse  all  around  me  the  happy  glow  of  a 
spirit  that  feels  at  peace  with  God. 

And  now,  Lord,  what  wait  I  for? 
"  My  hope  "  for  myself,  my  friends,  and 
all  for  whom  I  ought  to  pray,  "  is  in 
Thee."  Listen  to  these  my  supplications; 
and  all  I  ask  is  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen, 


'OAtrSB  MB  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING-KINDUESS  IN  TUB 
MOBNINO,  FOE  VS    THEE  DO  I  TBUeT." 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  101 


25th  MoRMNa. 


"0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

'And  confessed  that  they  were  strangers  arrd  pilgrims  on 
the  earth." — Heb.  xi.  13. 

^         YUI      ^  ^^^'  again,  in  the  multi- 

glim  ^]Jiril.  ^^^  permitting  me  to  ap- 
proach the  footstool  of  Thy  throne.  I 
am  another  day  nearer  death — oh !  may 
I  be  a  day  nearer  Thee  !  With  a  new 
morning's  dawn  may  I  hear  the  pilgrim 
summons — "  Arise,  for  this  is  not  your 
rest."  Ere  I  mingle  with  the  world, 
give  me  to  feel  I  am  not  of  it,  but  born 
from  above,  and  for  above  ;  and,  cher- 
ishing more  and  more  of  a  pilgrim  spirit, 
may  my  prayer  and  watchword  be—"  I 
desire  a  better  country." 

Lord,  I  bless  Thee  for  the  rich  pro- 
vision Thou  hast  made  for  the  wilder- 
ness journey — for  all  Thy  mercies,  tem- 
poral, providential,  and  spiritual.     For- 


102    THE  MORNING  WATCHES. 

bid  that  the  manifold  gifts  of  Thy  love 
should  draw  me  away  from  Thyself,  the 
bountiful  Giver,  or  obliterate  the  solemn 
impression — "  I  am  a  stranger  with 
Thee  and  a  sojourner,  as  all  my  fathers 
were."  May  I  "  use  the  world  without 
abusing  it."  By  the  varied  discipline 
of  Thy  providence,  may  I  be  led  to  feel 
that  all  my  well-springs  are  in  Thee. 
May  the  world's  fascinations  be  becom- 
ing more  powerless — sin  more  hated — 
holiness  more  loved — heaven  more  real- 
ized— God  more  "  the  exceeding  joy" 
of  my  soul.  Driven  from  all  creature 
stays  and  earthly  refuges,  may  Jesus  be 
the  prop  and  staff  of  my  pilgrimage. 
When  the  world  is  bright,  may  I  rest 
upon  Him,  and  seek  that  He  sanctify 
my  prosperity.  When  the  wilderness  is 
dreary,  and  the  way  dark,  may  He  hal- 
low adversity.  When  friends  are  re- 
moved, may  I  feel  that  I  have  One  left 
more  faithful  than  the  best  of  all  earthly 
friends  :  and  when  death  comes,  and  the 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  103 

pilgrim  warfare  ceases,  leaning  confid- 
ingly on  that  same  arm.  ma^^  I  enter  the 
pilgrim's  rest. 

0  adorable  Saviour  ! — Thou  who  wast 
once  Thyself  a  pilgrim — the  lonely,  wea- 
ry, homeless,  afflicted  One — who  hadst 
often  no  arm  to  lean  upon,  and  no  voice 
to  cheer  Thee — an  outcast  wanderer 
and  sojourner  in  Thine  own  creation — 
I  rejoice  to  think  that  Thou  hast  trod- 
den all  this  wilderness-world  before  me 
— that  Thou  knowest  its  dreariest  paths. 
I  take  comfort  in  the  assurance  that 
there  is  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Majes- 
ty on  high,  a  Fellow-Sufferer,  who  has 
drunk  of  every  "  brook  in  the  way" — 
shed  every  tear  of  earthly  sorrow- 
heaved  every  sigh  of  earthly  suffering — 
and  who,  being  Himself  the  "  tried  and 
tempted  One,"  is  able  and  willing  to 
succour  every  pilgrim  who  is  tried  and 
tempted  too. 

1  beseech  Thee  this  day  to  look  down 
in  great   kindness   on  all  my  beloved 


104    THE  MORNING  WATCHES. 

friends.  Seal  to  them  a  saving  interest 
in  Thy  great  salvation.  Wash  them  all 
in  Thy  blood — sanctify  them  all  by  Thy 
Spirit.  May  not  one  be  wanting  on 
"  the  day  when  Thou  makest  up  Thy 
jewels." 

Compassionate  a  fallen  world.  Thy 
Church  is  slumbering — the  enemy  is  all 
vigilant — souls  are  perishing.  Arise, 
Lord,  and  plead  Thine  own  cause.  Pro- 
mote greater  unity  and  love  and  con- 
cord among  Thine  own  people.  Let  us 
be  nearer  Jesus,  and  then  we  shall  be 
nearer  one  another.  Give  us  all  more 
of  the  single  eye  to  Thy  glory.  Make 
us  more  self-sacrificing — more  heavenly- 
minded — more  Saviour-like.  And  all  1 
ask  is  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


•'  CAUSE  ME  TO   HEAR  THY   LOVING-KIJTDNESS  IN  ' 
MORNING,  FOR  IN   THEK   DO  I  TRUST." 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  105 


23tb  Mormnq. 

*'0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  Prepare  tc  meet  thy  God."— Amos  iv.  12. 

.r     -^-i  r      0  ETERNAL,  ever]  astins: 

^^^'^^^P^Y-^*^"^  God-Author  of  my 
tax  iUraip,  being— my  continual, 
unwearied  Benefactor — I  desire  to  come 
anew  this  morning  into  Thy  presence, 
thanking  'iliee  for  Thy  sparing  mercies. 
Instead  of  making  my  last  night's  pil- 
low a  pillow  of  death,  I  am  again  among 
the  living  to  praise  Thee.  Oh  that  I 
were  enabled  to  live  every  day,  and  to 
rise  every  morning,  as  if  it  were  to  be 
my  last,  as  if  my  next  waking  were  to 
be  in  the  morning  of  immortality  ! 

Lord,  how  little  am  I  influenced  and 
impressed  by  the  solemn  records  of 
death  all  around  me  !  Friend  after  friend 
is  departing — the  circle  of  acquaintance 
is  narrowed.  The  proclamation  is  ever 
sounding    \^ith    fresh   emphasis   in   my 


106  THE   MORNIXG   WATCHES. 

ears,  "  Be  ye  also  ready ;"  and  yet 
how  prone  to  disregard  the  solemn 
monitions !  how  apt  to  peril  my  prepa- 
ration on  the  peradventures  of  a  dying 
hour !  Blessed  God,  my  prayer  is,  that 
I  may  Lave  my  loins  girded  and  my 
lamp  burning.  Let  me  not  wait  to  have 
my  vessel  replenished  till  the  voice  of 
the  Bridegroom  be  heard  and  I  am  sum- 
moned to  meet  Him.  May  I  now  so 
repose  my  every  coniidence  in  Jesus, 
that  death  may  be  disarmed  of  its  sting, 
— that  the  hour  which  to  the  unwary 
and  unwatcliful  is  one  of  darkness  and 
terror,  may  be  to  me  the  eve  of  the 
blessed  Sabbath  of  eternity — the  thresh- 
old and  the  portal  of  a  world  of  endless 

joy- 
Lord,  give  me  to  feel  that  "  the  sting 

of  death  is  sin" — that,  not  till  I  get  the 

blessed  sense  of  all  my  sins  cancelled 

and  forgiven  in  the  blood  of  the  Surety, 

can  I  be  ready  for  my  departure.     "  To 

me  to  live  may  it  be   Christ,"  that  so 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  107 

"  to  die"  may  be  great  and  eternal 
"  gain."  Let  me  be  enabled,  by  faith 
in  death's  great  Conqueror,  to  cultivate 
that  holy  familiarity  with  a  dying  hour, 
that  I  may  be  enabled,  when  it  conies, 
to  fall  sweetly  "  asleep  in  Jesus,"  and  to 
hear  His  voice  of  love  saying,  "  It  is  I, 
be  not  afraid." 

Look  in  mercy  on  the  multitudes  who 
are  content  to  live  on,  unmeet  and  unpre- 
pared for  their  great  change.  Awaken 
them  to  a  sense  of  their  guilt  and  peril. 
Shew  them  their  affecting  need  of  Jesus 
— that  time  is  wasting  and  eternity  is 
hastening — that,  "  as  the  tree  falleth,  so 
must  it  lie." 

I  pray  for  the  heathen  who  are  per- 
ishing for  lack  of  knowledge.  Coun- 
tenance and  bless  all  the  efforts  of  Thy 
Church  to  disseminate  among  them  the 
gospel  of  the  grace  of  God.  May  Thy 
missionary  servants,  who  have  gone 
with  their  lives  in  their  hands  to  the 
dark  places  of  the  earth,  experience  a 


108  THE    MORNING   WATCHES. 

peace  which  the  world  knows  not  of. 
May  they  have  many  souls  as  their 
glory  and  joy  and  crown  at  the  day  of 
Christ's  appearing. 

0  give  us  all  grace,  in  our  varied  sta- 
tions and  relations  in  life,  to  do  some- 
thing for  Thee.  Let  us  not  bury  or 
hide  our  talents  ;  but,  as  members  of  a 
ransomed  priesthood,  may  we  lay  our 
time,  our  opportunities,  our  substance, 
on  Thine  altar,  and  seek  to  "  shew  forth 
the  praises  of  Him  who  hath  called  us 
out  of  darkness  into  His  marvellous 
light."  And  all  I  ask  is  for  Jesus' 
sake.     Amen. 


CAUSE   ME   TO  HEAR  THY   LOVING-KINDNESS  IS  THK 
MORNING,   FOR  IV  TTTKE  T>0   I  TRURr," 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  109 


27th  Mor.ntxg- 


"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 

mnto  Thee." 
^  Awike  and  sing,  ye  tliat  dwell  in  dust."~Is.  xxvi.  19. 

.fat  n  3niifiil  ^^•^'^'°^'  "^^^^  ^ho"  hast 

■aur„.,„.t„  ^S^^^  dispersed  the  dark- 
!tlMrtfrtian.„ess  of  another  natural 
night.  Every  rising  earthly  gnn  is 
bringing  me  nearer  the  ghiddening  clay- 
break  of  immortality.  0  grant  that, 
when  the  trumpet  shall  sound  and  the 
dead  shall  be  raised,  I  may  be  ready 
to  listen  undismayed  to  the  summons, 
"Behold  the  Bridegroom  cometh,  go  ye 
out  to  meet  Him. 

My  prayer  is,  that  I  may  now  be 
made  partaker  of  the  blessedness  of  the 
first  resurrection  from  a  death  of  sin. 
As  one  "  alive  from  the  dead,"  may  I 
rise  and  walk  with  a  living  Saviour 
"  in  newness  of  life,"  that  thus  I  may  at 
last  share  also  in  the  more  glorious 
resurrection   of  His   ransomed   sainte, 


110  THE   MORNING  WATCHBS. 

when  his  "  dead  men  shall  live,"  and  to- 
getlier  with  His  body  "  they  shall  arise/* 
obeying  the  joyous  mandate  of  their 
risen  Head,  "  Awake  and  sing,  ye  that 
dwell  in  the  dust." 

Blessed  Jesus,  I  do  rejoice  to  think  of 
Thine  own  triumphant  rising  from  the 
tomb.  I  rejoice  to  be  able  to  visit  in 
thought  Thy  vacant  sepulchre,  and  to 
hear  the  glad  tidings,  "  He  is  not  here, 
He  is  risen !"  "  The  Lord  has  risen  !"— it 
is  the  blessed  pledge  and  earnest  of  my 
own  redemption  from  the  power  of  the 
grave — that  "because  Christ  lives,  I  shall 
live  also."  0  may  "  my  life  be  now  hid 
with  Christ  in  God,  so  that  when  Christ, 
who  is  my  life,  shall  appear,  I  may  also 
appear  with  him  in  glory."  Keep  me 
ever  in  the  frame  I  should  wish  to  be 
found  in  when  my  Lord  cometh.  May 
the  lamp  of  faith  and  love  be  ever 
brightly  burning.  May  it  never  be  mine 
to  be  awoke,  by  the  midnight  cry,  to  the 
awful  consciousness,  "my  lamp  has  gone 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  Ill 

out."  May  I  rather  be  among  the 
number  of  "  waiting  servants,"  who, 
when  their  Lord  "  cometh  and  knock- 
eth,"  are  ready  to  "  open  unto  Him  im- 
i]\ediately." 

Do  Thou  impart  to  all  near  and  dear 
to  me  this  day  the  same  spiritual  and 
eternal  blessings  I  ask  for  myself.  May 
they,  too,  be  united  to  Jesus — "  planted 
in  the  likeness  of  his  death,"  that  they 
may  be  found  also  "  in  the  likeness  of 
His  resurrection."  May  we  all  seek 
to  bear  an  increasingly  holy  resem- 
blance in  love  one  to  another,  and  to 
our  great  living  Head,  in  whom  the 
whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth  is 
named  ;  and  if  for  a  little  while  separated 
by  death,  may  we  on  the  great  day  of 
His  appearing,  be  reunited  in  bonds 
tliat  shall  know  no  dissolution. 

Hasten  that  blessed  time  when  our 
world,  so  long  groaning  and  travailing 
in  pain,  shall  put  on  her  resurrection 
attire,  and  exult  in  the  glorious  liberty 


112  THE    MORNING   WATCHES. 

of  Thy  Children.  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus  ; 
come  quickly."  "  Why  tarry  the  wheels 
of  Thy  chariot?" 

Lord,  I  commend  myself  to  Thee. 
Prepare  me  for  living,  prepare  me  for 
dying.  Let  me  live  near  Thee  in  grace 
now,  that  I  may  live  with  Thee  in  glory 
everlasting.  Let  me  be  reconciled  sub- 
missively to  endure  all  that  Thy  sover- 
eign wisdom  and  love  seem  meet  to 
appoint — looking  forward,  through  the 
tears  and  sorrows  of  a  weeping  world, 
to  that  better  day-spring,  when  "I 
shall  behold  Thy  face  in  righteousness," 
and  be  "  satisfied,  when  I  awake  in  Thy 
likeness."  And  all  I  ask  is  for  the  Ro 
deemer's  sake.     Amen. 


CAtJSE  ME  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVTN'G- KINDNESS  IS  THE 
MORNING ,  FOR  IN  THEE  DO  I  TRUST." 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  113 


28th  MoRNiN-a 

"0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 

unto  Thee." 

«<  The  God  of  peace  shall  bruise  Satan  under  your  feet 

shortlv'.'"— Rom  xvi.  20. 

J  cL^ir^  '  loi^  the  returnmo;  mer- 
"f^nf""-  cies  of  a  new  daP.  "I 
laid  me  down  and  slept ;  I  awaked  :  for 
the  Lord  sustained  me.  I  will  not  be 
afraid  of  ten  thousands  that  have  set 
themselves  against  me."  Vouchsafe  me, 
I  beseech  Thee,  Thy  fatherly  protection 
and  blessing,  that  all  my  thoughts  may 
be  ordered  by  Thee,  and  all  my  plans 
and  purposes  overruled  by  Thee,  and 
all  my  joys  hallowed  by  Thee,  and  all 
my  sorrows  sanctified  by  Thee.  Keep 
me  near  Thyself.  While  I  seek  to  realise, 
every  hour  of  this  day,  the  power  and 
subtilty  of  my  spiritual  adversaries,  may 
I  rejoice  in  the  assurance  that  greater  is 
He  that  is  with  me  than  all  they  that 
can  be  against  me — that  "  though  an 
8 


114     THE  MORNING  WATCHES. 

host  should  encamp  against  me,"  with 
God  on  my  side,  "  I  need  fear  no  evil.'' 
I  mourn  the  prevalence  of  sin,  both 
in  the  world  and  in  my  own  heart.  Thy 
creation  still  groans  and  travails  under 
its  power.     "  The  Prince  of  the  power 
of  the  air  still  works  in  the  children  of 
disobedience."    "  The  whole  world  lieth 
in  the  Wicked  One."     Often  is  Satan 
still  "  desiring  to  liave  me,  that  he  might 
sift  me  as   wheat " — "  standing   at   my 
right  hand  to  resist  me" — to  oppose  my 
plea  and   damage   my  cause, — sending 
some  "  thorn  in  the  flesh  to  buffet  me  " 
— marring  my  peace,  disturbing  my  joy, 
and  hindering  and  impeding  my  spiritu- 
al growth  and  advancement.  But,  Lord, 
it  is  my  comfort  to  know  that  there  is 
in  heaven  a  "  stronger  than  the  strong 
man  " — that  no  time  can  impair  or  di- 
minish the  comfort  of  the  assurance,  "  1 
have  prnyed   for  thee^  that  thy  faith  fail 
not."       When    Satan   assaults,   blessed 
Jesus.  I  will  think  of  Thy  continual  in* 


THE  MORNING  WATCHES.     115 

tercession.  "  Thy  hand  is  never  short- 
ened, that  it  cannot  save." 

May  I  ever  have  grace  given  me  to 
*'  resist  the  devil  that  he  may  fleo  from 
me '' — to  keep  watchfully  guarded  every 
loophole  of  the  heart.  May  I  abstain 
from  all  appearance  of  evil,  avoiding 
every  place  and  every  company  where 
his  unholy  influences  are  likely  to  pre- 
vail. "  Lead  me  not  into  temptation," 
and,  if  tempted.  Lord,  make  a  way  of 
escape,  that  I  may  be  able  to  bear  it. 

0  Thou  adorable  Intercessor  within 
the  veil,  it  is  my  comfort  to  know  that, 
in  Thy  season  of  humiliation  on  earth, 
Thou  wert  "not  ignorant  of  his  devices." 
Thou  didst  also,  of  him,  "  suffer,  being 
tempted,"  and  Thou  art  therefore  tlie 
more  able  "  to  succour  them  that  are 
tempted."  I  rejoice  to  think  that,  exalt- 
ed on  Thy  mediatorial  throne.  Thou  shalt 
reign  until  Satan  and  every  other  enemy 
be  put  under  Thy  feet,  and  until  the 
kingdoms  of  this  world  (so  long  usurped 


116  THE   MOENING   WATCHES. 

by  him)  shall  become  the  "  one  kingdom 
of  our  Lord  and  of  His  Christ." 

Hea\^enly  Father,  take  this  day  all 
my  beloved  friends  under  Thy  guardian 
care.  May  they  dwell  in  the  secret 
place  of  the  Most  High,  and  abide  under 
tlie  shadow  of  the  Almighty.  May  they 
too,  be  able  to  take  up  the  triumphant 
challenge — "  God  is  for  us,  who  can  be 
against  us  ? "  and  when  their  earthly 
work  and  warfare  is  accomplished,  may 
we  all  meet  in  that  sinless  world  where 
Satan's  seat  no  more  can  be  found,  and 
Satan's  temptations  shall  no  longer  be 
felt  or  feared.  And  all  that  I  ask  is  for 
Jesus'  sake.     Amen. 


OADSB    ME    TO   HBAK   THY    LOVINO  KINPNB89   IN    TUB 
UOENING,  FOB  IN  THEB   DO    I  TRUST." 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  117 


29tq  Morning 

'•'  0  Lord,  in  the  morning'  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

•'  I  will  pour  out  my  Spirit  upon  all  flesh." — Joel  ii.  28. 

^  .,  ^  ,  .  0  God,  I  desire  this 
/ni  tb  cDatpntirillg  .corning  to  approach 

01  U)t  ^^plllu  with  lowly  reverence 
the  footstool  of  Thy  throne,  adoring 
and  praising  Thee  for  the  rest  of  the 
past  niglit,  and  the  comforts  and  bless- 
ings of  a  new  day.  0  holy,  blessed, 
eternal  Trinity,  three  persons,  one  God, 
have  mercy  upon  me,  and  grant  me  Thy 
benediction  and  love. 

Most  blessed  Spirit  of  all  grace,  more 
especially  would  I  at  this  time  invoke 
Thy  presence  and  nearness.  I  acknowl- 
edge, with  shame  and  confusion  of  face, 
how  often  I  have  grieved  Thee  by  re- 
sisting Thy  gracious  influences.  TIow 
often  hast  Thou  pleaded  with  me  by  the 
voice   of  Providence,  and   vet   I  have 


118     THE  MORNING  WATCHES. 

turned  a  deaf  ear  to  Thj  repeated 
warnings  and  remonstrances  !  Thou 
hast  spoken  to  me  in  prosperity,  when 
the  full  cup  demanded  in  return  a  heart 
full  of  gratitude.  Thou  hast  spoken  to 
me  in  adversity,  when  by  the  emptied 
cup  and  the  broken  cistern,  Thou 
wouldst  have  driven  me  from  all  earthly 
things,  to  the  everlasting  God  Himself, 
as  my  only  satisfying  Portion.  Thou 
hast  spoken  to  me  by  the  terrors  of  the 
law  and  by  the  tender  accents  of  gospel 
love,  and  yet  I  have  continued  to  "  spend 
my  money  for  that  which  is  not  bread, 
and  my  labor  for  that  which  satisfieth 
not."  Long  ere  now  I  might  have 
exhausted  Thy  patience.  "  It  is  of  the 
Lord's  mercies  I  am  not  consumed." 

But  "  take  not,  0  gracious  God,  Thy 
Holy  Spirit  from  me."  Come,  Thou 
blessed  Enlightener,  Quick  en  er,  Sanc- 
ti  filer,  and  inspire  this  dull  cold  heart. 
Touched  as  with  a  live  coal,  may  the 
flame  of  a  holy  love  to  Thee  be  rekin- 


THE  MORNING  WATCHES.     119 

died  on  its  altar.  "  Return,  0  Holy 
Dove,  thou  Messenger  of  rest,"  from  the 
ti'ue  ark  of  God.  Grive  me  grace  to 
hate  the  sins  which  drove  Thee  away 
from  tliis  guilty  breast.  Breathe  upon 
me.  and  say,  "  Peace  be  unto  you  ;  re- 
ceive ye  the  Holy  Ghost."  Do  Thou 
invigorate  my  languishing  affections. 
May  I  realise  my  dependence  on  Thee 
for  every  pulsation  of  spiritual  life. 
Without  Thee  I  perish. 

While  I  pray  for  this  blessed  Agent 
in  behalf  of  my  own  soul,  Lord,  it  is 
my  earnest  prayer  that  He  may  be  pour- 
ed out  upon  all  flesh — that  that  time 
may  soon  come,  when  the  rain  of  His 
gracious  influences  shall  descend  on  a 
barren  church  and  parched  world. 
Hasten  the  Pentecost  of  the  "  latter 
day."  Earth  is  at  present  but  as  the 
prophet's  "  valley  of  dry  bones."  Come 
Thou  blessed  Spirit  of  all  grace, 
"breathe  upon  these  dry  bones,  that 
they  may  live." 


120  THE   MORNING    WATCHES. 

And  may  the  same  blessed  and  benign 
influences  be  shed  on  every  lieart  that 
is  dear  to  me.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
is  not  straitened.  0  my  Father  in 
lioaven,  hast  thon  not  promised  to  give 
the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask  Thee  ? 
I  pray  that  all  my  beloved  friends  may 
become  members  of  that  mystical  body 
of  which  Jesus  is  the  living  Head,  so 
that  the  oil  of  anointing  grace,  poured 
upon  Him  by  the  Spirit,  and  flowing 
down  to  the  skirts  of  His  garments, 
may  be  shared  by  His  humblest  and  un- 
worthiest  members.  0  that  each  and 
all  of  our  hearts  may  become  living 
temples,  in  which  the  Holy  Ghost 
dwells !  May  nothing  that  is  unholy 
lind  admission  there,  but,  "  sealed  with 
that  Holy  Spirit  of  promise,  the  earnest 
of  our  inheritance,"  may  we  be  daily 
and  habitually  living  in  the  expectation 
of  eternal  glory.  Through  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. 

"0AU8B  ME  TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING-KINDNESS  IN  THE 
MOENING,  FOR  IN    THEE  DO  I  TRUST." 


THE   MORNING    WATCHES.  121 


SOthMorxlvg. 

"  0  Lord,  in  the  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  That  they  all  may  bo  one."--Joha  xvii.  21. 

^^     ,,     >,   .        J.  0  God,  Thou  eternal 

.ifnt  !iB  dmmi  nf  F^„„t^i^  of  all  ex- 

W\  Vm^^-  cellence  and  glory!- 
through  the  oae  "  new  and  living  way  " 
1  desire  tliis  morning  to  approach  Thee. 
Powerless  in  my  own  pleadings,  I  look 
up  to  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of 
the  Majesty  in  the  heavens,  to  that 
"  Prince  who  has  power  with  God,"  and 
at  all  times  "  prevails."  Guilty,  I  come 
to  this  guiltless  Redeemer.  Diseased, 
I  come  to  this  great  Physician.  Out- 
cast, I  come  to  Him  who  has  promised 
that  He  will  by  no  means  "cast  out." 
May  His  presence  always  be  with  me. 
May  I  know  Him,  and  believe  in  Him. 
and  rejoice  in  Him.  May  I  feel  that  I 
need  no  other  Saviour — that  He  is  all 


122  THE   MORNING    J7ATCHES. 

I  require  for  life  or  for  death — for  time 
or  for  eternity. 

I  rejoice  to  think  of  the  glorious  mnl- 
titude  around  Thy  throne — the  trophies 
of  Thy  grace  —  already  wearing  the 
white  robe  and  the  immortal  palm.  I 
rejoice  to  think  of  the  blessed  unity 
which  pervades  their  glorified  ranks : 
no  note  of  discord  disturbing  their  lofty 
harmonies — all  seeing  eye  to  eye,  and 
heart  to  heart. 

I  lament  the  sad  and  mournful  es- 
trangement of  Christian  from  Christian 
in  Thy  Church  below — that  so  many, 
treading  the  same  heavenly  journey, 
with  the  same  glorious  portals  in  view, 
should  be  following  separate  and  diverse 
footpaths — that  so  many  brethren  in 
the  Lord,  whose  interchanges  ouglit  to 
be  all  love,  should  be  looking  coldly  and 
censoriously  on  one  another.  How 
much  ungodly  jealousy,  and  lieart-burn- 
ing,  and  mutual  recrimination,  among 
T)iy  professing  people!     How  little  of 


THE   MORNING   WATCHES.  12B 

tlie  Spirit  which  of  old  provokotl  tin; 
testimony  even  of  heathen  gainsayers — 
"  See  liow  these  Christians  love  one 
another  !  "  0  tliou  blessed  "Author  of 
peace  and  lover  of  concord,"  do  Thou, 
in  Thy  mercy,  pour  out  on  Thy  Church 
on  earth,  a  greater  spirit  of  unity,  and 
brotherly-kindness,  and  charity.  Do 
Thou,  in  Thy  mercy,  heal  the  bleeding 
wounds  of  Thy  mystical  body — casting 
over  them  the  mantle  of  love.  Bring 
us  all,  blessed  Jesus,  as  individuals  and 
as  churches,  nearer  Thyself,  and  then 
shall  we  be  nearer  one  another.  It  is  be- 
cause of  our  distance  from  Thee,  the  great 
Sun  of  Righteousness,  the  Source  of  light 
and  life  and  peace,  that  we,  as  wandering 
stars,  are  revolving  in  such  devious  and 
distant  orbits.  Give  us  to  feel  tliat  we 
are  all  members  of  one  miglity  family, 
of  which  Thou  art  the  glorious  Head — 
that,  tliougli  following  diverse  tracks, 
we  are  sheep  of  the  same  pasture,  own- 
ing the  same  "  Chief  Shepherd  '' — that, 


124  THE   MORNING    WATCHES. 

thougli  enrolled  in  different  ranks,  wo 
are  allies  in  the  same  great  army,  fight- 
ing under  the  banner  of  the  same  great 
Captain  of  salvation.  0  forbid  that,  in 
tliese  "latter  days" — in  these  times  of 
trouble,  and  rebuke,  and  blasphemy, 
when  "the  enemy  is  coming  in  like  a 
flood" — we  should  waste  our  strength 
on  petty  and  puny  dissensions !  May 
we  be  led  to  merge  the  few  points  in 
which  we  differ,  in  the  many  in  which 
we  can  unite. 

Preserve  me,  good  Lord,  this  day, 
from  all  uncharitableness.  May  I  "judge 
not,  that  I  be  not  judged."  May  I 
have  Thy  favour  resting  upon  me  in 
all  the  day's  duties,  and  Thy  love  soften- 
ing and  sanctifying  all  its  trials.  Ma 
all  my  beloved  friends  be  one  with  me 
in  Jesus — one  now,  and  one  in  glory 
everlasting.     Amen. 

"  CAUSE   ME    TO    HEAR    THY    LOVING-KINDNESS  TN  TUB 
MORNING,   FOR  IN  THEE  DO  J   TRUST." 


V 


THE  MOIiNING    WATCHES.  125 


31ST  MORNTJJa 

"  0  Lord,  in  tha  morning  will  I  direct  my  prayer 
unto  Thee." 

"  Tlij  kingdom  come." — Luke  xi.  2. 


^     iL     fr       '         r  0  ETERNAL,  ev( 

/nrtlitCnmiiignf^^  God,  ^ho. 


0  ETERNAL,  ever-bless- 

►se   mer- 

is  new 

to  me  every  morniug — give  me  through- 
out this  day  that  peace  which  the  world 
cannot  give.  As  the  beams  of  the  ma- 
terial sun  are  lighting  up  anew  my 
earthly  chamber,  may  the  inner  chamber 
of  my  soul  be  illumined  by  a  better  and 
brighter  radiance.  Jesus!  thou  blessed 
Fountain  of  light,  and  life,  and  glory, 
do  Thou  disperse  all  the  darkness  of 
unbelief  and  sin.  May  Thy  presence  and 
love  hallow  all  my  joys,  and  mitigate 
and  sanctify  all  my  sorrows. 

Ere  I  enter  on  the  day's  dutie«;  do 
Thou  anew  sprinkle  the  lintels  and 
door-posts  of  my  heart  with  Thine  own 
most  precious  blood  ;   may  my  inmost 


126  THE    MORNINCx    WATCHES. 

thoughts  and  purposes,  and  desires,  and 
aiFections  be  consecrated  to  that  God 
whose  property  they  are.  May  I  have 
an  increasing  experience  of  the  sweets 
of  Thy  favour,  and  friendship,  and  love. 
With  Thee,  blessed  Lord,  I  am  rich, 
wliatever  else  I  want  ;  without  Thee,  I 
am  poor,  though  I  have  the  wealth  of 
worlds  beside.  Take  what  Thou  wilt 
away—  but  take  not  Thyself.  Nothing 
can  fill  and  satisfy  the  longings  of  my 
immortal  nature  but  Thee — all  worldly 
happiness  and  creature  joys  are  poor 
substitutes  for  the  inexhaustible  source 
of  all  joy.  Let  me  know  what  it  is, 
amid  the  wreck  of  earthly  refuges  and 
hopes,  to  exult  in  the  persuasion,  "The 
Lord  liveth  ;  and  blessed  be  my  Rock  ; 
and  let  the  God  of  my  salvation  be  ex- 
alted." 

While  I  pray  that  Thy  kingdom  may 
come  in  my  own  heart,  I  would  espe- 
cially  pray  for  its  extension  throughout 
the  world.     Arise.  0  God,  and  let  Thine 


TAB   MORNING   WATCHES.  127 

enemies  be  scattered.  May  the  li-lessed 
day  soon  arrive  when  a  rejoicino'  and 
emancipated  world  shall  own  no  longer 
liabit-ations  of  darkness  and  horrid  cru- 
elty— when  Jew  and  Gentile  shall  wel- 
come the  Prince  of  Peace  to  the  Throne 
of  Universal  Empire — and  "  all  ends  of 
the  earth  shall  see  the  salvation  of  God.'^ 
"  Come,  Lord  Jesus ;  come  quickly." 
Let  the  cry  soon  break  over  Thy  now 
burdened  Church,  "  Let  us  be  glad  and 
rejoice,  for  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  is 
come,  and  His  wife  hath  made  herself 
ready."  Grant,  Lord,  that  /  may  be 
in  readiness  to  meet  Thee.  May  my 
loins  now  be  girded,  and  my  lamp 
brightly  burning,  that,  at  the  Bride- 
groom's summons,  I  may  be  able  joy- 
fully to  respond,  "  Lo,  this  is  my  God ! 
I  have  waited  for  Him." 

Grant  this  day  to  all  near  and  dear 
to  me,  as  well  as  to  myself,  the  special 
tokens  of  Thy  blessing  and  love.  Fold 
my  beloved  friends  in  the  arms  of  Thy 


128     THE  MORNING  WATCHES. 

mercy.  Teacliiiig  them  to  do  Thy  holy 
will,  do  Thou  say  of  them  and  to  them, 
"  The  same  is  my  mother,  and  sister, 
and  brother."  Guide  us  all  by  Thy 
counsel  here.  May  we  feel  that  the  way 
in  which  Thou  art  leading  us  is  the 
kindest  and  the  best  that  covenant  love 
can  devise  ;  and  when  our  appointed 
time  on  earth  is  finished,  do  Thou  re- 
ceive us  into  everlasting  habitations 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

And  now,  to  Grod  the  Father,  God  the 
Son,  and  God  the  Holy  Spirit,  be  as- 
cribed, as  is  most  due,  all  blessing,  and 
honour,  and  glory,  and  praise,  world 
without  end.     Amen. 


■  CAUSE  ME   TO  HEAR  THY  LOVING-KINDNESS  IN 
MORNING,  FOR  IN  THEE  DO  I  TRUST." 


'  MY  SO\JL  -WAITETH  FOR  THE  LORD  MORE  THAN  THEY  THAI  WATCSl 
FOR  THE  MORNINa." — VS.  CSM.  6. 


THE 


NIGHT  WATCHES 


■  Sun  of  my  soul  1  thou  Saviour  dear, 
It  is  not  Night  if  thou  be  near  ; 
Oh  I  may  no  earth-born  cloud  arise, 
To  hide  Thee  from  Thy  servant's  eyes !" 


€^t  Migjjt  Wak^is. 


While  the  title  of  this  second  part  indicatca  ita 
design  as  a  series  of  evoiiing  meditations,  that  title 
may  bo  more  peculiarly  suggestive  of  those  experi- 
ences of  earthly  sorrow,  during  which  this  has  ever 
proved  the  most  blessed  solace — "I  have  remem- 
bered THY  NAME,  0  Lord,  in  the  nights 

May  every  reader  be  able  to  make  the  assurance 
of  the  Psalmist  his  own — "The  Lord  will  command 
His  loving-kindness  in  the  day-time,  and  in  the  night 
His  song  shall  be  with  me."  (Ps.  xlii.  8.') 

"  WTieu  the  soft  dews  of  kindly  sleep 
My  wearied  eyelids  gently  sleep, 
Be  my  last  thought,  how  sweet  to  rest 
For  ever  on  my  Saviour's  breast  I 

"  Abide  with  me  from  morn  till  eve, 
For  without  Thee  I  cannot  live  : 
Abide  with  me  when  night  is  nigh. 
For  without  Thee  I  dare  not  die  I'' 


THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 


1st  Night 
OK  Month 


"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

'*  From  everlasting  to   everlasting  thou  an  Gorl." — 
Ps.  xc.  2.  -'    -1'    ^ 

.  .,  My  Soul!  Seek  to  fill  thyself 
™.  'W\  with  thoughts  of  the  Almighty! 

CpIuII|.  Yjosq  thyself  in  the  impenetra- 
ble tracts  of  His  glory  !  "  Canst  thou 
by  searching  find  out  God  ?"  Can  the 
animalcule  fathom  the  ocean,  or  the 
worm  scale  the  skies  ?  Can  the  finite 
grasp  the  Infinite — the  mortal  Immor- 
tality? We  can  do  no  more  than 
stand  on  the  brink  of  the  shoreless  sea, 
and  cry,  "0  the  depth!"  ''From 
everlasting  !  " — shrouded  in  the  great 
and  awful  mystery  of  eternity  I  Before 
one  star  revolved  in  its  sphere — before 
one  angel  moved  his  wing —  God  ivas  ! — 
the  shadow  of  His  own  infinite  presence 
filling  all  space.  All  time  to  Him  is  but 
as  the  heaving  of  a  breath — the  beat  of 
a  pulse — the  twinkle  of  an  eye.  The 
Eternitv  of  bliss,  which  is  the  noblest 


4  THE   NIGHT  WATCHES. 

heritage  of  the  creature,  is  in  its  nature 
progressive.  It  admits  of  advance  in 
degrees  of  happiness  and  glory.  Not  so 
with  the  Eternity  of  the  Glreat  Creator  ; 
lie  was  as  perfect  before  the  birth  of 
time  as  He  will  be  when  "  time  shall  be 
no  longer  " — as  infinitely  glorious  when 
He  inhabited  alone  the  solitudes  of  im- 
mensity, as  He  is  now  with  the  songs  of 
angel  and  archangel  sounding  in  His 
ears!  But  "who  can  shew  forth  all 
His  praise  ?"  We  can  at  best  but  lisp 
the  alphabet  of  His  glory.  Moses,  who  * 
saw  more  of  God  than  most,  makes  it 
still  his  prayer,  "  I  beseech  thee,  shew 
me  Thy  glory."  Paul,  who  knew  more 
of  God  than  other  men,  prays  still, 
"  that  I  may  know  him."  "  Our  safest 
eloquence,"  says  Hooker,  "  concerning 
Him,  is  our  silence,  when  we  confess 
without  confession,  that  His  glory  is 
inexplicable." 

And  is  this  the  Being  to  whom  I  can 
look  up  with  sweetest  confidence,  and 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  5 

call  ''Ml  Father''?  Is  it  this  Infinite 
One,  whom  "  the  Heaven  of  Heavens 
cannot  contain,"  I  can  call  "  My  God  "  ? 
My  soul !  contemplate  the  medium 
through  which  it  is  thou  canst  see  the 
glory  of  God,  and  yet  live  !  "  No  man 
hath  seen  God  at  any  time  ;  the  only- 
begotten  Son,  who  is  in  the  bosom  of 
the  Father,  He  hath  declared  Him." 
He,  who  dwells  in  light  inaccessible, 
comes  forth  from  the  pavilion  of  His 
glory  in  the  person  of"  Immanuel,  God 
with  us."  In  Christ,  "  the  Image  of 
the  invisible  God, "  the  creature — ay, 
sinners — can  gaze  unconsumed  on  the 
lustres  of  Deity  !  Reader  !  be  it  thine 
to  glorify  him.  Seek  thus  to  fulfil  the 
great  design  of  thy  being.  Let  all  thy 
words  and  ways,  tnine  actions  and  pur- 
poses, thy  crosses  and  losses,  redound 
to  His  praise.  The  highest  seraph  can 
have  no  higher  or  nobler  end  than  this 
— the  glory  of  the  God  before  whom  he 
casts  his  crown.    But  he  has  a  claim  on 


6  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

thee,  which  He  has  not  on  the  unre- 
deemed angel.  "He  gave  Himself  for 
thee ! "  This  mightiest  of  all  boons 
which  Omnipotence  could  give,  is  the 
guarantee  for  the  bestowment  of  all 
lesser  necessary  blessings,  and  for  the 
withholding  of  all  M?inecessar;s^  trials. 
Whilst  thou  art  called  to  behold  "  His 
glory,  the  glory  as  of  the  only-begotten 
of  the  Father,"  remember  its  charac- 
teristic ;  it  is  not  a  glory  to  appal  thee 
by  its  splendours,  but  to  win  and  cap- 
tivate thee  by  its  beauties — it  is  "  full 
of  grace  and  full  of  truth."  He  is  thy 
God  in  covenant.  ^Underneath  and 
around  thee  are  the  everlasting  arms." 
Thou  mayest  compose  thyself  on  thy 
nightly  pillow,  with  the  sweet  pledge 
of  security,  and  say — 

"  1  WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOWN   IN    PHAGE   AND  SIJIEP  ;, 

FOR  THOU,  LORD,  ONLY  MAKEST  ME  DWELL 

IN  S>  JETT  I  " 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 


2d  Night. 
■•'I  meditate  on  This  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"  Thou  art  the  same."— Ps.  cii.  27. 

.      >*lt  t       What  a  fountain  of  com* 

Jlinnutfinilltq.  inimutability  of  God ! 
Not  one  ripple  can  disturb  the  calm  of 
His  unchanging  nature.  Were  it  so, 
He  would  no  longer  be  a  perfect  Being 
— He  would  undeify  Himself — He  would 
cease  to  be  God  I 

"  Change  is  our  portion  here  !'• 
"  They  shall  perish,"  is  the  brief  chron- 
icle regarding  everything  on  this  side 
heaven.  The  firmament  above  us,  the 
earth  beneath  us,  the  elements  around 
us — "  all  these  things  shall  be  dissolv- 
ed." Scenes  of  hallowed  endearment — 
they  are  fled  !  Friends  who  sweetened 
our  pilgrimage  with  their  presence — 
they  are  gone  !  But  here  is  a  sure  and 
safe  anchorage  amid  the  world's  heav- 
ing ocean  of  vicissitude  —  "  Tlioii  art 
the  same."    All  is  changing  but  the  Un- 


8  THE   NICxHT    WATCHES. 

changing  One !  The  earthly  scaffolding 
may  give  way,  but  the  living  Temple 
remains.  The  reed  may  bend  to  the 
blast,  but  the  living  Rock  spurns  and 
outlives  the  storm  ! 

How  blessed,  especially,  to  contem- 
plate the  unchangeableness  of  our  Great 
High  Priest ! — "  Jesus  Christ,  the  same 
yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever !" 
True,  He  is  in  one  sense  "  changed." 
No  longer  the  "  man  of  sorrows" — the 
homeless  wanderer — He  is  enthroned 
amid  the  glories  of  heaven.  Seraphs 
praise  Him — Saints  adore  Him  ;  but  His 
Heart  knows  no  change !  His  ascension 
glories  have  not  obliterated  His  tender 
human  sympathies.  We  can  think  of 
Him  receiving  an  outcast  sinner,  or  still- 
ing the  Tiberias  storm,  or  standing  at 
the  gate  of  Nain,  or  weeping  tears  of 
pity  over  a  lost  city,  or  tears  of  sympa- 
thy over  a  buried  friend,  and  write  over 
all  these,  "  Thou  art  the  same  P^  The 
name  which  He  bequeathed  by  angels  to 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  9 

His  Church  until  he  comes  again  is— 
''tliat  same  Jesus  P^  His  own  Patmos 
title  is  His  memorial  for  all  lime—"  I 
G?/iHe  thatliveth!" 

Believer!  has  He  ever  seemed  to 
change  towards  thee?  Art  thou  even 
now  mourning  over  the  withdrawal  of 
that  countenance  whose  smile  is  heaven  ? 
Art  thou  saying  in  the  bitterness  of  thy 
spirit,  "  Hath  the  Lord  forgotten  to  be 
gracious  ?''— the  change  is  with  thyself, 
not  with  thy  God.  Behind  the  clouds 
of  thine  own  departure,  the  Sun  of  His 
loYC  shines  brightly  as  ever.  ''He 
fainteth  not,  neither  is  weary." 

Or,  it  may  be,  thou  art  labouring  un- 
der other  trials.  The  hand  of  thy  God 
may  be  heavy  upon  thee.  The  secret 
thought  may  be  harboured  that  some 
tear  might  have  been  spared— that  thy 
chastisement  might  have  been  less  se- 
vere—that thy  bereavement,  with  its 
dark  accompaniments,  might  have  been 
mitigated  or  averted.     Look  upwards  I 


10  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

and  take  the  Psalmist's  antidote  as  thine 
own,  "  /  tvill  remember  the  years  of  the 
right  hand  of  the  Most  High."  Think 
that  the  same  hand  which  was  for  thee 
nailed  to  the  cross,  is  now  pleading  for 
thee  on  the  throi  e,  ordering  and  control- 
ling every  trial,  and  over  every  dark 
providence  writing  the  unanswerable 
challenge,  "  He  who  spared  not  his  own 
Son,  but  delivered  Him  up  for  us  all, 
how  shall  he  not  with  Him  also  freely 
give  as  all  things  ?''  Oh  I  thus  pillow- 
ing thy  head  on  the  Immutability  of 
Jesus,  amid  the  rude  buffetings  of  a 
changing  world,  thou  wilt  be  able,  night 
after  night,  to  say,  till  the  dawn  of  a 
morning  breaks  on  thee,  which  knows 
neither  night  nor  vicissitude — 

"l    WILL    BOTH    LAY    MB    POWN     IN     PEACE     AND    SLEEP; 
FOB  THOtr,  LOBD,  ONLT  MAKK8T  ME  DWBLL 

IK  baf-btyI" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  11 

""  '"  3t  Night 

"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"The  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigueth." — Rev,  xix.  16. 

^     vL        Believer  !  what  can  bet- 
UU  L/ljl(       ^gj.   g^ppQj-t   a^(]   sustain 

'i^"""?"*"'"- thee  amid  the  trials  of  thy 
pilgrimage  than  the  thought  that  thou 
hast  an  Omnipotent  arm  to  lean  upon  ? 
The  God  with  whom  thou  hast  to  do  is 
boundless  in  His  resources.  There  is  no 
crossing  His  designs — no  thwarting  His 
purposes — no  questioning  His  counsels. 
His  mandate  is  law — "  He  speaks,  and 
it  is  done!  "  Thy  need  is  great.  From 
the  humblest  crumb  of  providential  good- 
ness, up  to  the  richest  blessing  of  Divine 
grace,  thou  art  hanging  from  moment 
to  moment  a  pensioner  on  Jehovah's 
bounty  ;  but,  fear  not !  "  I  am  the 
Almighty  God !  "  Finite  necessities  can 
never  exhaust  infinite  fulness  —  "  My 
God  shall  supply  all  thy  need  !  " 

To  Tliee,  0  blessed  Jesus !  "  all  power 
has  been  committed  in  heaven  and  in 


12  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

earth.''  "  All  poioer  !  "  He  has  in  His 
hands  the  reins  of  universal  empire.  To 
"  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Juclah  "  has 
been  intrusted  the  seven-sealed  roll  of 
Providence.  Whatever  be  the  boon 
which  the  poorest,  weakest,  loneliest, 
most  afflicted  of  His  saints  require,  if 
it  be  really  for  their  good,  the  "  Won- 
derful Counsellor"  secures  it.  "  As  a 
Prince,  He  has  power  with  God,"  and 
must  "prevail."  He  combines  in  His 
adorable  Person  all  a  sinner  requires. 
A  heart  tender  enough  to  love — a  hand 
strong  enough  to  save.  The  Elder  Bro- 
ther I— the  "  Mighty  God ! "  How  He 
delights  in  the  exercise  of  that  omnipo- 
tence in  behalf  of  His  own  people !  in 
ruling  over  their  interests  and  overruling 
their  trials  for  their  interests !  When 
He  prays  for  himself,  it  is  "  Not  my 
wiliy  When  He  prays  for  them,  it  is, 
''Father,  Iivill!'' 

May  I  not  well  take  the  motto  which 
He  still  bears  on  His  breastplate  before 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  13 

the  throne,  as  the  ground  of  support 
and  encouragement  "in  all  time  of 
tribulation  " — "  able  to  save  even  unto 
the  uttermost "  ? 

"  The  golden  censer  in  His  hand, 
He  offers  hearts  from  every  land, 
Tied  to  His  own  by  gentlest  baud 

Of  silent  love. 
About  Him  wiiigei  blessings  stand, 
In  act  to  move." 

My  enemies  are  many — their  name  is 
Legion.  Satan,  the  great  adversary — 
the  world,  and  "  the  world's  trinity  " — 
the  lust  of  the  flesh  and  the  lust  of  the 
eye,  and  the  pride  of  life  ; — heart  trai- 
tors— bosom  sins.  But  "  He  that  i^for 
me  is  greater  far  than  all  that  can  be 
against  me."  He  is  "  stronger  "  than  the 
"  strong  man  " — Christ  the  Power  qf 
God  /  "  "I  that  speak  in  righteousness, 
■mighty  to  save! " 

Believer !  art  thou  in  trial,  beaten 
down  with  a  great  fight  of  afflictions — 
like  the  disciples,  out  in  a  midniglit  of 


14  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

storm,  buffeting  a  sea  of  trouble  ?  Fear 
not !  When  the  tempest  has  done  its 
work — when  the  trial  has  fulfilled  its 
embassy,  the  voice  which  hushed  the  wa- 
ters of  old  has  only  to  give  forth  the 
omnipotent  mandate,  "Peace,  be  still !  " 
and  immediately  there  will  be  "  a  great 
calm."  The  "  all  power  "  of  Jesus ! — 
what  a  pillow  on  which  to  rest  my 
aching  head!  disarming  all  my  fears, 
and  inducing  thoughts  of  sweetest  com- 
fort, consolation,  and  joy. 


•*!    WILL   BOTH   LAY   ME   DOWN   IN   PEACE   AND 

FOB  THOU,  LORD,  ONLY   ILiKEST  US  DWEU. 
IN  fiAffKTY  '  " 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  15 


4th  Night. 
"I  meditate  on  Tnee  in  the  Night  Watches. 

Whither  shall  I  go  from  Thy  Spirit,  or  whither  shall  I  flee 
from  Thy  presence  ?"— Ps.  cxxxix.  7. 


(Dn  €tfi( 


The    Ubiquity    of    God  ! 
^      .  How  bafflina;  to  any  finite 

'^""'iP«3f"^f-conprehension!  to  think 
that  above  us,  and  around  us,  and  with- 
in us,  there  is  nothing  but  Deity — the 
invisible  footprints  of  an  Omniscient, 
Omnipresent  One  !  "  His  eyes  are  on 
every  place ! "  on  rolling  planets  and 
tiny  atoms,  on  the  bright  seraph  and  the 
lowly  worm  ; — roaming  in  searching 
scrutiny  through  the  tracks  of  immensi- 
ty, and  reading  the  occult  and  hidden 
page  of  my  heart !  "All  things  are 
naked  and  opened  unto  the  eyes  of  Him 
with  whom  we  have  to  do." 


"  God,  I  feel  Th}'  presence  uigh, 
Everywhere  o'er  nature's  face 
Wheresoe'er  I  turu  my  ej^e, 

I  Th  y  living  footsteps  trace  1 
Nought  can  sever  me  from  Thee — 
Everywhere  Thou  art  with  me  I " 


16  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

0  God !  shall  this  Thy  Omnipresence 
appall  me?  Nay,  in  my  seasons  of  sad- 
ness and  sorrow  and  loneliness — when 
other  comforts  and  comforters  have 
failed — when,  it  may  be,  in  the  darkness 
and  silence  of  some  midnight  hour,  in 
vain  I  have  sought  repose — how  sweet 
to  think,  "  My  God  is  here !"  I  am  not 
alone.  The  Omniscient  One,  to  whom 
the  darkness  and  the  light  are  both 
alike,  is  hovering  over  my  sleepless  pil- 
low !  "  He  that  keepeth  Israel  neither 
slumbers  nor  sleeps  !'^ 

0  Thou  eternal  Sun!  it  cannot  be 
darkness  or  loneliness  or  sadness  where 
•J^hou  art.  There  can  be  no  night  to 
the  soul  which  has  been  cheered  with 
Thy  glorious  radiance ! 

"  Lo,  /  am  with  you  alway !"  How 
precious,  blessed  Jesus  I  is  this  Thy  leg- 
acy of  parting  love !  In  the  midst  of 
Thy  Church  till  the  end  of  time — ever 
present,  ommpresent !  The  true  "  Pillar 
of  Cloud"  by  day  and  "  fire  by  night," 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  17 

preceding  and  encamping  by  us  in  every 
step  of  our  wilderness-journey.  My  soul  I 
think  of  Him  at  this  moment  in  the  mys- 
teriousness  of  His  Godhead  nature — and 
yet,  with  all  the  exquisitely  tender  sym- 
pathies of  a  gloriiied  humanity,  as  pres- 
ent with  every  member  of  the  family  He 
has  redeemed  with  His  blood !  ay,  and 
as  much  present  with  every  individual 
soul  as  if  He  had  none  other  to  care  for, 
but  as  if  that  one  engrossed  all  His  affec- 
tion and  love  !  The  Great  Builder,  sur- 
veying every  stone  and  pillar  of  His 
spiritual  temple — the  Great  Shepherd, 
with  His  eye  on  every  sheep  of  His  fold 
—the  Great  High  Priest  and  Elder 
Brother,  marking  every  tear-drop-  -not- 
ing every  sorrow — listening  to  every 
prayer — knowing  the  peculiarities  of 
every  case — no  number  perplexing  Him 
— no  variety  bewildering  Him — able  to 
attend  ro  all,  and  overtake  all,  and  an- 
swer all ;  myriad  wants  drawing  hourly 
on  His  Treasury,  and  yet  no  diminution  : 


18  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

that  Treasury,  ever  emptying,  and  yet 
ever  filling,  and  always  full ! 

Jesus !  Thy  perpetual  and  all-pervad- 
ing presence  turns  darkness  into  day. 
I  am  not  left  unbefriended  to  weather 
the  storms  of  life,  if  Thy  hand  be  from 
hour  to  hour  piloting  my  frail  bark. 
Gracious  antidote  to  every  earthly  sor- 
row, "J  have  set  the  Lord  always  before 
me  /"  Even  now,  as  night  is  drawing 
its  curtains  around  me,  be  this  my  clos- 
ing prayer — "Blessed  Saviour!  abide 
with  me,  for  it  is  toward  evening,  and 
the  day  is  far  spent !"  Under  the  over* 
shadowing  wings  of  Thy  presence  and 
love, 

**!  whl  both  lay  mb  down  in  peace  and  sleep; 

vob  thou,  lobd,  only  uakest  mb  dweli. 

in  safety  i  " 


THE   NIGHT  WATCHES.  1% 


5th  Xight, 
"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

**  His  understandiug  is  infinite." — Ps.  cxlvii.  5. 

^  ^,  How  baffling  often  are  God's 
m  Cbpt(  dispensations !  The  more  we 
ttUBUOni.  attempt  to  fathom  their  mys- 
tery, the  more  are  we  driven  to  rest  in 
the  best  earthly  solution — "  Thy  judg- 
ments are  a  great  deep !" 

But  where  sense  says,  "All  these 
things  are  against  me,"  faith  has  a  dif- 
ferent verdict — "  All  things  are  working 
together  for  my  good."  This  is  the 
province  of  faith,  confidingly  to  lean  on 
the  arm  of  God,  and  to  say,  "  The  Lord 
is  righteous  in  all  His  ways."  We 
speak  of  God  "  foreseeing !"  There  is 
no  such  thing.  The  past,  present,  and 
future  are  with  Him  all  alike.  He  sees 
the  end  from  the  beginning.  We  can 
discern  but  a  short  way,  and  that  short 
way  through  a  false  and  distorted  me- 
dium.    In  a  piece  of  earthly  mechanism 


20  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

we  seldom  can  discover  beauty  in  the 
incompleted  structure.  The  mightiest 
works  of  science,  while  in  progress,  are 
often  a  chaos  of  confusion  :  it  is  only 
when  finished  we  can  admire  the  relation 
and  adjustment  of  every  part  to  the 
whole.  So  with  the  mechanism  of  God's 
moral  administration.  At  present,  how 
much  mystery !  But,  when  in  the  light 
of  eternity  we  come  to  contemplate  the 
completion  of  the  mighty  plan,  how  shall 
we  be  brought  to  own  and  exclaim,  "The 
works  of  the  Lord  are  right!" 

"  But  patience  !  there  may  come  a  time, 
When  these  dull  ears  shall  scan  aright 
Strains  that  outring  earth's  drowsy  chime, 
As  Heaven  outshines  the  taper's  light  1" 

Believer !  are  the  dealings  of  thy  God 
at  present  wearing  a  mysterious  aspect 
to  thee  ?  Art  thou  about  to  enter  some 
dark  cloud,  and  exclaiming,  "Yerily 
Thou  art  a  God  that  hidest  Thyself?" 
Dost  thou  "  fear  to  enter  the  cloud  ?" 
Take  courage !     It  will  be  with  thee  as 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  21 

with  the  disciples  ;  unexpected  glimpses 
of  heavenly  glory, — unlooked-for  tokens 
of  the  Saviour's  presence  and  love  await 
thee  !  If  thy  Lord  lead  thee  into  the 
cloud,  follow  Him.  If  He  "  constrain 
thee  to  get  into  the  ship,"  obey  Him. 
The  cloud  will  burst  in  blessing  ;  the 
ship  will  conduct  thee  (may  it  be  over  a 
stormy  sea)  to  a  quiet  haven  at  last !  It 
is  only  the  surface  of  the  ocean  that  is 
rough.  All  beneath  is  a  deep  calm,  and 
in  every  threatening  wave  there  is  a 
"  need-be !" 

Oh  1  trust  Him,  who  is  emphatically 
"The  Wisdom  of  God."  He  is  thy 
Counsellor — combining  the  prescience  of 
God  with  the  experience  and  sympathy 
of  man.  He  thus,  pre-eminently, "  knows 
His  client's  case."  He  is  pledged  to  use 
the  discipline  most  wisely  suited  for 
each. 

"  0  Thou  whose  wisdom  guides  my  way, 
Though  now  it  seem  severe, 
Forbid  my  unbelief  to  say, 
'There  is  no  wisdom  here.' 


22  THE   NIGHT    WATCHE8. 


Lord  !  if  Thou  bend  my  spirit  low, 

Love  only  I  shall  see  ; 
The  very  hand  that  strikes  the  blow 

Was  wounded  once  for  me." 


Under  the  blessed  persuasion,  that  a 
day  of  disclosures  is  at  hand,  when,  "  in 
His  light,  I  shall  see  light,"  I  will  trust 
the  wisdom  I  cannot  trace,  and  repeat, 
each  night,  as  the  shadows  of  evening 
gather  around  me,  until  the  nights  of 
earth's  ignorance  vanish  before  the 
breaking  of  an  eternal  day — 

"  I  WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOWN  IN  PEACE  AND  BLEEP  ; 

rOR  TH01T,  LORD,  ONLY    MAKEBT  Kit  DWBLL 

IN  aAFBTV." 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  23 


6tu  Night. 
'  I  meditate  on  Thee  iu  the  Night  Watches." 

"  Thou  only  art  holy." — Rev.  xv.  4. 


(Uu  cjrii 


What  an  awful  perfection  is 
^  |.  c  -  this!  It  denotes  the  burning 
J0nUEB55,p^^i^y  of  Jehovah.  It  would 
eeem  to  form  the  loftiest  theme  for  the 
adorations  of  saints  and  angels.  They 
cease  not  day  nor  night  to  cry,  "  Holy, 
holy,  holy,  is  the  Lord  God  Almighty !" 
It  evokes  from  the  Church  on  earth  her 
loudest  strains — "  Let  them  praise  His 
great  and  terrible  name, /or  it  is  holy  P^ 

"  Holy,  Holy,  Holy  Three  I 
One  Jehovah  evermore  I 
Father  I  Son !  and  Spirit  I  we, 

Dust  and  ashes,  would  adore. 
Lightly  by  the  world  esteem'd, 
From  that  world  by  Thee  redeem'd, 
Sing  we  here  with  glad  accord, 
Holy  1  Holy  I  Holy  Lord  1" 

My  soul !  seek,  in  some  feeble  mea- 
sure, to  apprehend  the  nature  of  God's 
unbending  hatred  at  sin  !  It  is  the  deep, 
deliberate,    innate    opposition   of   His 


24  THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 

nature  to  moral  evil,  which  requires  Him 
to  hate  it,  and  visit  it  with  condign  pun- 
ishment. It  is  not  so  much  a  matter  of 
icill  as  of  necessity. 

But  what  pleasure  can  there  be  in  the 
contemplation  of  so  awful  a  theme? 
The  contemplation  of  a  God  "  of  purer 
eyes  than  to  behold  iniquity"  —  "  in 
whose  sight  the  heavens  are  not  clean  !" 
— Jesus  !  thy  adorable  atonement  is  the 
mirror  in  which  wc  can  gaze  unappalled 
on  this  august  attribute !  Thy  cross  is 
to  the  wide  univei'se  a  perpetual  monu- 
ment and  memorial  of  the  Holiness  of 
God.  It  proclaims,  as  nothing  else 
could,  "  Thou  lovest  righteousness  and 
hatest  wickedness  !"  Through  that  cross 
the  Holiest  of  all  beings  becomes  the 
most  gracious  of  all.  "  Now,  we  can 
love  Him,"  says  a  saint  who  has  entered 
on  his  rest,  "  not  only  although  He  is 
holy,  but  because  He  is  holy." 

Gaze,  and  gaze  again  on  that  monu- 
mental column  till  it  teaches  the  lesson. 


THE    NIGHT   WATCHES.  25 

how  vain  elsewhere  to  look  for  pardon  J 
— how  delusive  that  dream,  on  which 
multitudes  peril  their  eternal  safety,  that 
"  God  will  be  at  last  too  merciful  to 
punish !"  Surely,  if  any  less  awful  vin- 
dication could  have  sufficed, — or  had  it 
beeji  compatible  with  the  Divine  attri- 
butes to  dispense  pardon  in  any  other 
way,  Gethsemane  and  Calvary,  with  all 
their  awful  exponents  of  agony,  would 
have  been  spared  !  The  Almighty  vic- 
tim would  not  have  voluntary  submitted 
to  a  life  of  ignominy  and  a  death  of 
woe,  if,  by  any  simpler  method,  He  could 
have  "  cleared  the  guilty."  But  this 
was  impossible.  If  He  was  to  "  save 
others,  Himself  he  could  not  save !" 

Believer !  let  the  attribute  of  Holi- 
ness be  the  superscription  written  on 
your  heart  and  life.  Abounding  grace 
can  give  no  sanction  or  encouragement 
to  abound  in  sin.  "His  mercy,"  says 
Bisho])  Reynolds,  "is  a  holy  mercy 
which  knows  how  to  pardon  sin,  not  to 


26  THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 

protect  it :  it  is  a  sanctuary  for  the  pen- 
itent, not  for  the  presumptuous." 

My  soul !  art  thou  tempted  to  murmur 
under  the  dealings  of  thy  God  ?  What 
are  the  sorest  of  thy  trials  in  compari- 
son with  what  they  might  have  been,  had 
this  Holy  God  left  thee  to  know,  in  all 
the  sternness  of  its  meaning,  how  "  Glo- 
rious He  is  in  Holiness"  ?  Rather  mar- 
vel, considering  thy  sins,  that  thy  trial 
has  been  so  small — thy  cross  so  light ! 

Blessed  Jesus  !  into  this  sanctuary  of 
"  holy  mercy"  which  thou  hast  opened 
for  me,  I  will  flee.  I  can  now  "  give 
thanks  at  the  remembrance  of  God's 
holiness !"  Deriving,  even  from  this 
august  attribute,  one  of  the  "  songs  in 
the  night"— 


I  WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOWN   IN  PKACE  AND  SLEEP  ;    FOK 
TDOXr,  LOBD,  ONLY  MAKK8T  ME  TO  HWELI.  IN  8AFTi   1" 


THE   NIGHT  WATCHES.  27 


7tu  Night 
"  I  meditate  on  Thee  m  the  Night  Watches." 

•Justice  and  judgment  are  the  habitation  of  Thy  Throne.'" 
— Ps.  Ixxxis.  14. 

^  y.  The  Justice  of  God  is  "His 
^  p^  Holiness  in  exercise."  Let  us 
JUHltCL  repair  to  the  spot  marked  out 
as  the  scene  of  its  most  awful  manifesta- 
tion. In  the  depths  of  a  by-past  eter- 
nity, the  summons  was  heard,  "  Awake, 
0  sword,  against  my  Shepherd,  and 
against  the  man  who  is  my  Fellow !" 
That  mysterious  commission  has  been 
fulfilled !  The  Shepherd  has  been  smit- 
ten! Myriads  of  condemned  spirits 
could  not  have  borne  to  God's  inexorable 
rectitude  so  awful  a  testimony,  as  when, 
on  the  cross  of  Calvary,  one  lone  voice 
sent  up  the  wailing  cry,  "  My  God,  my 
God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?" 

My  soul,    rejoice !      Justice,   which 
erewhile  demanded  the  execution  of  a 


28  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

righteous  doom  upon  millions  lost^  can 
now  unite  with  Mercy  in  sheathing  the 
avenging  sword  and  exulting  over  my- 
riads redeemed.  The  law  which  brouglit 
in  a  whole  world  "  guilty  before  God," 
can  exult  with  Mercy  in  seeing  its  every 
requirement  obeyed,  its  every  demand 
fulfilled  ;  the  Lawgiver  Himself  "  the 
Just  and  yet  the  Justifier  ;"  unloosing 
every  chain  of  condemnation,  and  pro- 
nouncing "  Not  guilty  !  "  "0  Law  !  " 
says  Luther,  "  I  drown  my  conscience 
in  the  wounds,  blood,  death,  resurrec- 
tion, and  victory  of  Christ." 

Wondrous  thought! — Justice,  the  very 
attribute  which  excluded  the  sinner,  the 
first  to  throw  open  a  door  of  welcome, 
proclaiming  the  infinite  merit  has  can- 
celled infinite  demerit — infinite  holiness 
has  covered  infinite  sin !  While  "  jus- 
tice and  judgment  are  the  habitation  of 
His  throne,"  provision  has  been  made 
whereby,  in  perfect  consistency  with 
every  principle  of  His  moral  govern- 


THE    NIGHT    WATCHES.  29 

raent,  "  mercy  and  truth  may  go  con- 
tinually before  His  face." 

Reader,  it  is  well  for  thee  often  and 
devoutly  thus  to  dwell  on  tlie  inflexible 
justice  of  thy  God.  It  will  magnify  to 
thee  the  riches  of  His  grace,  the  glories 
of  redemption,  thepreciousness  of  Jesus  ! 
If  the  sinner  is  to  be  saved,  "judgment 
must  be  laid  to  the  line,  and  righteous- 
ness to  the  plummet !"  "  The  Sinless 
One  must  be  condemned,"  says  Lefevre, 
"  if  he  that  is  guilty  is  to  go  free.  The 
Blessing  must  bear  the  curse,  if  the 
cursed  are  to  be  brought  into  blessing. 
The  Life  must  die,  if  the  dead  are  to 
live !"  "In  prayer  in  the  evening,"  says 
Henry  Martyn,  "  I  had  such  near  and 
terrific  views  of  God's  judgment  upon 
sinners  in  hell,  that  my  flesh  trembled 
for  fear  of  them.  I  flew  trembling  to 
Jesus  Christ,  as  if  the  flames  were  taking 
hold  of  me.  Oh!  Christ  will  indeed 
save  me,  or  else  I  perish !" 

My  soul !  take  hold  of  that  touchingly 


30  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

simple  assurance  to  which  Justice  has 
appended  its  seal, "  Whosoever  believeth 
in  Him  shall  not  perish  !" 

"  Not  perish !"  and  Justice  and  a  God 
of  justice  proclaiming  so  great  salvation 
-  -safety  from  the  terrors  of  a  violated 
law — rest  from  the  accusations  of  a 
guilty  conscience — calmness  in  the  pro- 
spect of  death — Grace  here — Glory 
hereafter !  Oh  !  what  more  can  that  sin- 
ner need,  or  the  sinner's  God  bestow  1 


**!  WILI.  BOTH  LAY  MB   DOWN  IN  PBAOB  AND  SUOBF  ; 

VOB  THOU,  LORD,  ONLY  M AKEST  MB  DWSLI. 

tW  SAFBTY  1 " 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  31 


8th  Niunr. 
"I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"  God  is  Love." — 1  John  iv.  16. 

^  ^,  "  The  only  real  mystery  of 
mm  ^YiQ  Bible,"  says  an  old  writer, 
^^^^-  "  is  a  mystery  of  Love."  "  God 
so  loved  the  world  as  to  give  His  only 
begotten  Son  !''  What !  that  for  a  lost 
and  ruined  world,  the  Prince  of  Life 
should  leave  the  bosom  on  which  He 
had  been  pillowed  from  all  eternity! 
and  expire  by  an  ignominious  death  on 
the  bitter  tree !  Love  unutterable !  un- 
speakable !  The  reflection  of  the  scep- 
tic of  a  bygone  age  may  have  formed 
at  times  the  musing  of  better  minds. 
"  It  is  far  too  great — it  is  far  too  good 
to  be  true !  "  Infinite  majesty  compas- 
sionating infinite  weakness !  The  great 
Sun  of  heaven,  the  Fountain  of  uncreat- 
ed light,  undergoing  an  eclipse  of  dark- 
ness and  blood  for  the  sake  of  a  taper 
that  glimmered  in  nothingness  in  His 
beams.      "  God  so  loved    the  world." 


32  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

Man  never  can  get  farther  in  the  solu- 
tion of  the  wondrous  problem.  Eternit}' 
itself  will  form  a  ladder— the  saints 
climbing  step  by  step  in  its  ascending 
glories — but,  as  the  prospect  widens, 
each  new  altitude  will  elicit  the  same 
confession,  "  the  Love  of  Christ,  ivhich 
passetli  hiovjledgey 

My  soul !  seek  to  enter  into  the 
secrets  of  this  love  of  thine  adorable 
Redeemer.  Before  all  time  that  love 
began.  We  have  glimpses  of  it  burst- 
ing out  from  the  recesses  of  a  bypast 
eternity — "  Then  I  was  by  Him,  as  one 
brought  up  with  Him,  and  I  was  daily 
His  delight,  rejoicing  alway  before 
Him  !  "  And  "  when  the  fulness  of  the 
time  was  come,"  though  foreseen  were 
all  His  untold  sufferings,  nothing  would 
deter  Him  from  pursuing  His  anguished 
path — "  He  set  His  face  steadfastly  to 
go  to  Jerusalem  ] — nay,  as  if  longing 
for  the  hour  of  victory.  He  exclaimed, 
"  T  have  a  baptism  to  be  baptized  with, 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  83 

and  how  am  I  straitened  until  it  be  ac- 
complished ! " 

Think  of  that  love  now  ! — the  Uto 
coals  in  the  censer  of  old — a  feeble  type 
of  the  burning  ardor  of  affection  still 
manifested  by  our  Great  High  PrieiU 
within  the  veil,  in  behalf  of  His  own 
people.  There  He  bears  the  name  of 
each  indelibly  engraven  on  His  breast- 
plate ;  "  loving  them  at  the  beginning. 
He  will  love  them  even  unto  the  end !  " 
Earthly  love  may  grow  cold  and  change- 
able, or  it  may  die.  Not  so  the  love  of 
this  "  Friend  of  friends.''  It  is  strong 
as  death — surviving  death — nay,  death- 
less as  eternity.  Listen  to  His  own 
exponent  of  its  intensity :  "  As  the 
Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have  I  loved 
you  I "  "  You  see  in  Him,"  says  a 
pious  writer,  "  an  ocean  of  love  without 
bottom,  without  bounds,  overflowing  the 
banks  of  heaven,  streaming  down  upon 
this  po0r  world  to  wash  away  the  vile- 
ness  of  man  !  " 
8 


34  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

Blessed  Jesus !  how  cold,  and  fitful, 
and  transient  has  been  my  love  to  Thee 
in  comparison  of  Thy  love  to  me  I 
Bring  me  more  under  its  constraining 
influence !  May  this  be  the  superscrip- 
tion on  all  my  thoughts  and  my  actions 
— ^my  occupations  and  my  time  :  "  I  am 
not  my  own  —  Lord,  I  am  Thine!" 
How  can  I  love  Thee  enough,  who  hast 
so  loved  me  !  My  life  shall  henceforth 
be  one  thank-offering  of  praise  for  Thy 
redeeming  mercies. 

Standing  this  night  on  the  shores  of 
this  illimitable  ocean  —  surveying  its 
length  and  breadth — every  wave  mur- 
muring "  Peace  on  earth  and  good-will 
to  men  " — 


"l  WILL  BOTH  I.AY  MB  DOWN  IN  PEAOB  AND  BLEEP 

FOK  THOU,  LORD,  ONLY  MAKE8T  MB  D-VTBLL 

IN  SAFETY  I  " 


THE   NIGHT  WATCHES.  35 


9th  Nig  hi. 
I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches  " 

"  The  God  of  all  grace."— 1  Peter,  v.  10. 


(Dn  tljt[ 


"  By  the  Grace  of  God  I  am 
(ISrnr'p  what  I  am  !"  This  is  the  be- 
liever's eternal  confession. 
Grace  found  him  a  rebel — it  leaves  him 
a  son.  Grace  found  him  wandering  at 
the  gates  of  hell — it  leaves  him  at  the 
gates  of  heaven.  Grace  devised  the 
scheme  of  Redemption.  Justice  never 
would.  Reason  never  could.  And  it  is 
Grace  which  carries  out  that  scheme. 
No  sinner  would  ever  have  sought  his 
God  but  "  by  grace."  The  thickets  of 
Eden  would  have  proved  Adam's  grave 
had  not  grace  called  him  out.  Saul 
would  have  lived  and  died  the  haughty 
self-righteous  persecutor  had  not  grace 
laid  him  low.  The  thief  would  have  con- 
tinued breathing  out  his  blasphemies  had 
not  grace  arrested  his  tongue  and  tuned 
it   for   glory.      "  Out   of  the   knottiest 


36  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

timber,"  says  Rutherford,  "  He  can 
make  vessels  of  mercy  for  service  in  the 
high  palace  of  glory." 

"  I  came,  I  saw,  I  conquered,"  says 
Toplady,  "  may  be  inscribed  by  the  Sa- 
viour on  every  monument  of  grace.  I 
came  to  the  sinner  ;  I  looked  upon  him  ; 
and  with  a  look  of  omnipotent  love,  I 
conquer  edy 

My  soul !  thou  wouldst  have  been  this 
day  a  wandering  star,  to  whom  is  re- 
served the  blackness  of  darkness  — 
Christless — hopeless — portionless — had 
not  grace  invited  thee,  and  grace  con- 
strained thee !  And  it  is  grace  which  at 
this  moment,  keeps  thee.  Thou  hast 
often  been  a  Peter — forsaking  thy  Lord, 
but  brought  back  to  Him  again.  Why 
not  a  Demas  or  a  Judas  ?  "J  liave 
frayed  for  thee  that  thy  faith  fail  not  J^ 
Is  not  this  thine  own  comment  and  re- 
flection on  life's  retrospect  ? — "  Yet  not 
I,  but  the  grace  of  God  which  was  with 
mol" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  37 

Seek  to  realise  thy  continual  depend- 
ence on  this  grace  every  moment.  "  More 
grace  !  more  grace  !"  would  need  to  be 
thy  continual  cry.  But  the  infinite  sup- 
ply  is  commensurate  with  the  infinite 
need.  The  treasury  of  grace,  though 
always  emptying,  is  always  full  :  the 
key  of  prayer  which  opens  it  is  always 
at  hand  ;  and  the  Almighty  almoner  of 
the  blessings  of  grace  is  always  "  wait- 
ing to  he  gracious  /"  The  recorded  pro- 
mise never  can  be  cancelled  or  reversed 
— "  My  grace  is  sufiicient  for  thee  !" 

Eeader !  seek  to  dwell  much  on  this 
inexhaustible  theme  :  The  grace  of  God 
is  the  source  of  minor  temporal  as  well 
as  of  higher  spiritual  blessings.  It  ac- 
counts for  the  crumb  of  daily  bread  as 
well  as  for  the  crown  of  eternal  glory. 
But  even  in  regard  to  earthly  mercies, 
never  forget  the  cJiaimel  of  grace — 
'^through  Christ  Jesus!"  It  is  aweet 
thus  to  connect  every  (even  the  smallest 
and   humblest)   token   of    providential 


38  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

bounty  with  Calvary's  cross — to  liave 
the  common  blessings  of  life  stamped 
with  "  the  print  of  the  nails !"  It  makes 
them  doubly  precious  to  think,  "This 
flows  from  Jesus  I" 

"  When  with  dear  friends  sweet  talk  I  hold, 
And  all  the  flowers  of  life  unfold  ; — 
Let  not  my  heart  within  me  burn, 
Except  in  all  I  Thee  discern  !" 

Let  others  be  contented  with  the  un- 
covenanted  mercies  of  God.  Be  it  mine 
to  say,  as  the  child  of  grace  and  heir  of 
glory — "  Our  Father  which  art  in  hea- 
ven, give  us  this  day  our  daily  bread  !" 
Nay,  reposing  in  the  "  all-sufficiency  in 
all  things"  promised  by  "  the  God  of  all 
grace," 

"  I  WILl  BOTH  LAY  MB  DOWN  IN  PKAOB  AND  BLBBP  ;  FOR 

TH0T7,  LOBD,  ONLY  MAKK8T  MB  DWELL 

IN  SATETY  I" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  39 


IOtu  Nigbx 
"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

«  He  shall  gather  the  lambs  with  His  arm,  and  carry 
them  ia  His  bosom,  and  shall  gently  lead  those  that  are  with 
young." — ^Isa,  xi.  11. 

.,  How  soothing,  in  the  hour 
(Dn  1^III|  Qf  sorrow,  or  bereavement, 
®BnftBrUCS9.  ^j.  ^eath,  to  have  the  counte- 
nance and  sympathy  of  a  tender  earthly 
friend  I  My  soul !  these  words  tell  thee 
of  one  nearer,  dearer,  tenderer  still — 
the  Friend  that  never  fails— a  tender 
God !  By  how  many  endearing  epithets 
does  Jesus  exhibit  the  tenderness  of 
His  affection  to  His  people  1  Does  a 
sliepherd  watch  tenderly  over  his  flov^i^  ? 
"  The  Lord  is  my  Shepherd !"  Does  a 
father  exercise  fondest  solicitude  tow- 
ards his  children?  "I  will  be  a  Father 
unto  you !"  Does  a  mother's  love  exceed 
all  other  earthly  types  of  affectionate 
tenderness  ?  "  As  one  whom  his  mother 
comforteth,  so  will  I  comfort  you  I"    la 


40  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

the  applo  of  the  eye  the  most  suscepti* 
ble  part  of  the  most  delicate  bodily 
organ  ?  "  He  keeps  them  as  the  apple 
of  riis  eye !" 

"  He  will  not  break  the  bruised  reed  I" 
When  the  "  Shepherd  and  Bisliop  of 
Souls"  finds  the  sinner  like  a  lost  slieep, 
stumbling  on  the  dark  mountains,  how 
tenderly  he  deals  with  him  !  Tliere  is 
no  look  of  wrath — no  word  of  upbraid- 
ing— in  silent  love  "  He  lays  him  on 
His  shoulders  rejoicing !" 

When  Peter  falls,  He  does  not  unne- 
cessarily wound  him.  He  might  have 
repeated  often  and  again  the  piercing 
look  which  brought  the  flood  of  peni- 
tential sorrow.  But  He  gave  that  look 
only  once  ;  and  if  He  reminds  him  again 
of  his  threefold  denial,  it  is  by  thrico 
repeating  the  gentlest  of  questions, 
"  Lovest  thou  me  ?" 

My  soul !  art  thou  mourning  over  the 
weakness  of  thy  faith — the  coldness  of 
thy  love— thy  manifold  spiritual  declen- 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  41 

sions?  Fear  not!  He  knows  thy  frame 
• — He  will  give  feeble  faith  tender  deal- 
ing— He  will  "  carry"  in  His  arms  those 
that  are  unable  to  walk,  and  will  con- 
duct the  burdened  ones  through  a  path 
less  rough  and  rugged  than  others. 
When  "  the  Lion"  or  "  the  Bear"  comes, 
thou  mayest  trust  the  true  David,  the 
tenderest  of  shepherds !  Art  thou  suf- 
fering from  outward  trial  ?  Confide  in 
the  tenderness  of  thy  God's  dealings 
with  thee.  The  strokes  of  His  rod  are 
gentle  strokes — the  needed  discipline  of 
a  fatlier  yearning  over  his  children  the 
very  moment  He  is  chastising  them ! 
The  gentlest  earthly  parent  may  speak 
a  harsh  word  at  times — it  may  be,  need- 
lessly harsh.  But  not  so  GOD.  "  He 
may  seem,  like  Jo.-ieph  to  his  brethren, 
to  speak  roughly ;  but  all  the  while 
there  is  love  in  His  heart !"  The  prun- 
ing-hook  will  not  be  used  unnecessarily. 
It  will  never  cut  too  deeply.  The  fur- 
nace will  not  burn  more  fiercely  than  is 


42  THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 

absolutely  required.  A  tender  God  is 
seated  by  it,  tempering  the  fury  of  its 
flames. 

And  what,  believer,  is  the  secret  of 
all  this  tenderness  ?  "  There  is  a  man 
upon  the  Throne  P''  Jesus — the  God- 
Man  Mediator  :  combining,  with  all  the 
might  of  Godhead,  all  the  tenderness 
of  spotless  humanity.  Is  thy  heart 
crushed  with  sorrow? — so  was  His! 
Are  thine  eyes  dimmed  with  tears? — so 
were  His !  "  Jesus  wept !"  Bethany's 
"  Chief  Mourner"  still  wears  the  Bro- 
ther's heart  in  glory.  Others  may  be 
unable  to  enter  into  the  depths  of  thy 
trial.     He  can — He  does  ! 

With  such  a  "  tender  God"  caring  for 
me,  providing  for  me,  watching  my  path 
by  day,  and  guarding  'my  couch  1)} 
night — 


I   WILL   BOTH   LAY   MK   DOWN   IN   PEACE    AND  SLEBP ; 

FOH  TIIOIT,    LORD,   ONLY   MAKK8T   ME   DWELL 

IN    SAFETY  I" 


THE  NIGHT  WATCHES.  43 


11th  NlQHt 

"I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 
«  The  God  of  Patience." — ^Rom.  xv.  5. 

^,  There  is  no  more  wondrous 
.f^,/^P^  subject  than  this— '^  The  Pa- 
^MmnrL  tigj^^^e  of  God!"  Think  of 
the  lapse  of  ages  during  which  that  pa- 
tience has  lasted— 6000  years  !  Think 
of  the  multitudes  who  have  been  the 
subjects  of  it— Millions  on  millions,  in 
successive  climes  and  centuries  I  Think 
of  the  sins  which  have  all  that  time  been 
trying  and  wearying  that  patience — 
their  number— their  heinousness — their 
aggravation !  The  world's  history  is  a 
consecutive  history  of  iniquity,  a  length- 
ened provocation  of  the  Almighty's 
forbearance !  The  Church,  like  a  feeble 
ark,  tossed  on  a  mighty  ocean  of  un- 
belief; and  yet  the  world,  with  its 
cumberers,  still  spared  I  The  cry  of  its 
sinful  millions  at  this  moment  enter 
"  the  ears  of  the  God  of  Sabaoth,"  and 


44  THE   NIGHT  WATCHES. 

yet,  "  for  all  tliis,  His  liand  of  mercy  is 
siretclied  out  still !" 

And  who  is  this  God  of  patience  ?  It 
is  the  Almighty  Being  who  c©uld  strike 
these  millions  down  in  a  moment!— 
who  could,  by  a  breatli,  annihilate  the 
world! — nay,  who  would  require  no 
positive  or  visil^le  forth-putting  of  His 
omnipotence  to  effect  this,  but  simply 
to  withdraio  His  sustaining  arm  ! 

Surely,  of  all  the  examples  of  the 
Almighty's  power  there  is  none  more 
wondrous  or  amazing  than  "  God's 
power  over  Himself."  He  is  "  slow  to 
anger."  "  Judgment  is  His  strange 
work."  He  "  visits  iniquity  unto  the 
third  and  fourth  generation."  He 
"shews  mercy  unto  thousands  of  gene- 
rations!'' God  bears  for  1500  years, 
from  Moses  to  Jesus,  with  Israel's  un- 
belief ;  and  yet,  as  a  pious  writer  re- 
marks, "  He  speaks  of  it  as  but  a  day  :^^ 
"  All  day  long  have  I  stretched  out  my 
hands  to  a  disobedient  and  gainsaying 


THE    NIGHT   WATCHES.  45 

people."  What  is  the  history  of  all  this 
tenderness  ?  "  My  thoughts  are  not 
your  thoughts,  neither  are  your  ways 
my  ways,  saith  the  Lord !" 

My  soul !  how  great  has  been  God's 
patience  towards  thee!  In  thine  un- 
converted state,  when  a  wanderer  from 
His  fold,  with  what  unwearied  love  He 
went  after  thee  ;  notwithstanding  all  thy 
waywardness,  never  ceasing  the  pursuit 
"  mita  He  found  thee !"  Think  of  thy 
fainting  and  weariness  since — thine  ever- 
changing  frames  and  feelings  ;  the  ebb- 
ings  and  the  Sowings  in  the  tide  of  thy 
love,  and  yet,  instead  of  surrendering 
thee  to  thine  own  perverse  will,  Hia 
language  concerning  thee  is,  "  How  can 
I  give  thee  up  ?"  For  a  lifetime,  thy 
Saviour-God  has  been  standing  knock- 
ing at  thy  door  ;  and  his  attitude  is  ttill 
the  same—"  Behold,  I  stand!" 

"  But  fainter  than  the  pole-star's  ray 
Before  the  noontide  blaze  of  day, 
Is  all  of  love  that  man  can  know — 
All  that  in  angels'  breasts  can  glow — 


46  THE  NIGHT  WATCHES. 

Of  mpared,  0  Lord  of  hosts  I  with  thine, 
Unwearied  I  fathomless  !  Divine  I" 

How  should  the  patience  of  Jesus 
lead  rae  to  be  submissive  under  trial! 
When  He  has  so  long  borne  with  me, 
shall  not  I  "  bear"  with  Him  ?  When  I 
think  of  His  patience  under  a  far  heavier 
cross,  can  /  murmur  when  He  mur- 
mured not  ?  Nay,  I  will  check  every 
repining  thought,  and  looking  up,  in 
confiding  affection,  to  "  the  God  of  all 
patience," 


I  •WILL  BOTH  LAY  MB  DOWN  IN   PEACE  AND  SLEEP 
rOB  THOU,  LORD,  ONLY  UXKESI  MB  DWBLL 

m  EiAFrrr  1" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  47 

12th  Night. 
'•  1  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 
~'Tliy  faithfulness  reacheth  unto  the  cUiuds."— Ps.  xxxvi.  5. 

^  ^,  It  has  been  well  said,  that 
^  ..,}'', P^       "  the  universe   around   us 

/nitlifiiliitss.  i,  ^  p^^.^^1^  ^f  g^,^^^_„ 

"  As  the  mountains  are  round  about  Je- 
rusalem, so  doth  the  Lord  compass  His 
people !"  But  firmer  than  even  these 
types  of  immutability  in  the  kingdom  of 
nature  is  the  word  of  a  covenant-keeping 
God  in  the  kingdom  of  grace.  These 
mountains  (nature's  best  emblems  of 
steadfastness)  may  depart,  and  the  hills 
be  removed,  "  hut^'^  says  their  almighty 
Maker,  "  my  kindness  shall  not  be  taken 
from  thee !" 

We  can  look  upwards  to  the  stars  of 
night,  and  see  the  "  faithfulness"  of  God 
"  established"  in  the  material  heavens — 
'*  This  day  they  stand  as  Thou  ordain- 
estl"  But  these  are  feeble  types  ajid 
symbols   of  brighter   constellations  in 


i8  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

the  spiritual  firmament — the  declara- 
tions of  an  unchanging  God — "  Thy 
word  is  forever  settled  in  heaven  !" 

What  a  gracious  assurance  amid  our 
own  unfaithfulness,  "  The  Lord  is  faith- 
ful !" — that  the  unfaithfulness  of  the  be- 
liever never  alters,  and  can  never  alter, 
the  faithfulness  of  God  ! 

My  soul !  anchor  thyself  on  this  rock 
of  the  Divine  veracity.  Take  hold  of 
that  blessed  parenthesis  which  has  been 
to  many  a  tossed  soul  as  a  polar  star  in 
its  nights  of  darkness — "  Having  loved 
His  own  which  were  in  the  world,  He 
loved  them  even  unto  the  end."  He 
loves  them  in  life — loves  them  in  death 
— loves  them  through  death — loves  them 
i7ito  glory ! 

Art  thou  not  at  this  hour  a  monument 
of  God's  faithfulness?  Where  wouldst 
tliou  have  been  had  not  the  magnet  of 
His  grace  kept  thee,  and  drawn  thy  fu- 
gitive affections  towards  Himself?  From 
how  many  temptations  has  He  rescued 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  49 

thee — laying  hold  of  thee  on  the  preci' 
pice,  when  about  to  plunge  headlong 
down — employing  sometimes  constrain- 
ing,  at  others  restraining  grace — mak- 
ing this  thy  brief  history,  ''Kejjt  by  the 
power  of  God,"  and  overruling  all — all 
for  His  own  glory,  and  thine  own  good? 

I  love  to  think  of  Thy  faithfulness,  0 
thou  ''Tried  stone,"  '''laid  in  Zion ! " 
Thou  wert  tried  by  the  Law — by  Jus- 
tice— by  Men — by  Devils,  and  yet  Thou 
wert  faithful !  Thou  hast  been  tried  by 
Prophets  and  Apostles ;  by  Martj^rs 
and  Saints  ;  by  youthful  sinners,  and 
aged  sinners,  and  dying  sinners, — and 
Thou  hast  been  found  faithful  hy  all  and 
to  all  ;  and  Thou  art  faithful  still ! 

My  soul !  never  suppose,  amid  the 
faithlessness  of  earth's  trusted  friends, 
that  thou  art  doomed  to  thread  thy  way 
in  loneliness  and  solitude  ;  there  is  more 
than  one  Emmaus  journey  !  The  "Abid- 
ing" Friend  is  left !     He  is  always  t}ie 

neitlier  is 
4 


50  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

weary !"  His  faithfulness  is  a  tried 
faithfulness  !  His  word  is  a  tried  word ! 
His  friendship  is  a  tried  friendship! 
He  is  always  "  better  than  His  word !" 
He  pays  with  usury  ! 

♦'  Oh  1  who  could  bear  life's  stormy  doom, 

Did  not  Thy  word  of  love 
Come  brightly  bearing  through  the  gloom 

A  peace-branch  from  above  ? 
Then  Sorrow,  touch 'd  by  Thee,  grows  bright, 

With  more  than  rapture's  ray, 
As  darkness  shows  us  worlds  of  light 

We  never  saw  by  d.ay  I" 

When  I  think  that  at  this  very  mo- 
ment the  eye  of  that  faithful  Saviour- 
Grod  is  upon  me — 

"  I  WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOWN   IN   PEACE  AND  SLEEP  ; 

POB  THOn,  LORD,  ONLT  MAKK3I  KE  DWELL 

IN  aATOTT  I  *' 


THE   NIGHT    WATCHES.  51 


13th  Night. 

**I  meditate  on  Thae  in  the  Night  Watches." 

•'  He  doeth  according  to  His  will  in  the  army  of  heaven,  and 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth." — Dan   iv.  35. 

^  vL  How  blessed  that  el&- 
.  ^^"  m  mentary  truth  —  "  The 
InflErngntll.  ^ord  reigneth  !  "  To 
know  that  there  is  no  chance  or  acci- 
dent with  God — that  He  decrees  the 
fall  of  a  sparrow — the  destruction  of  an 
atom — the  annihilation  of  a  world ! 

The  Almighty  is  not  like  Baal, 
"  asleep."  "  He  that  keepetli  Israel  " 
can  never  for  a  moment  "  slumber." 
'*  Man  j9roposes — God  cZ^^^poses."  "  Thou 
didst  it  I  "  is  the  history  of  every  event, 
past,  present,  and  to  come.  His  pur- 
poses none  can  change — His  counsels 
none  can  resist  I 

My  soul !  how  cheering  to  know  that 
all  that  befalls  thee  and  thine  is  thus  or- 
dered in  the  eternal  purpose  of  a  Cove- 
nant God  !  Every  minute  circumstance 
of  thy  lot. — appointing  the  bounds  of  thy 


52  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

habitation — meting  out  every  drop  in 
the  cup  of  life — arranging  what  by  tliee 
IS  called  its  "  vicissitudes  '' — decreeing 
all  its  trials,  and  at  last,  as  the  great 
Proprietor  of  life,  revoking  the  lease  of 
existence  when  its  allotted  term  has 
expired ! 

How  it  would  keep  the  mind  from  its 
guilty  proneness  to  brood  and  fret  over 
second  causes,  were  this  grand  but  simple 
truth  ever  realised — that  all  that  befalls 
us  are  integral  parts  in  a  stupendous 
plan  of  wisdom — that  there  is  no  cross- 
ing or  thwarting  the  designs  and  deal- 
ings of  God  ;  none  can  say,  "  What  do- 
est  thou  ?  " — all  ought  to  say,  "  He  doeth 
all  things  well." 

We  dare  not  venture,  with  presump- 
tuous gaze,  to  penetrate  into  "  those  se- 
cret things  which  belong  unto  the  Lord 
our  God."  In  all  that  is  fitted  in  the 
consideration  of  this  august  theme  of 
the  Divine  Decrees  to  impart  encour- 
agement and  consolation,  let  us  rejoice  ; 


THE    NIGHT   WATCHES.  53 

in  all  that  is  mysterious  and  incompre- 
hensible, let  us  with  childlike  reverence 
exclaim,  "  0  the  depth  of  the  riches 
both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of 
God  !  How  unsearchable  are  His  judg- 
ments, and  His  ways  past  finding  out !  " 

The  contemplation  of  the  Sovereignty 
of  God  formed  subject-matter  of  rejoic- 
ing to  the  SaA'iour  Himself  in  His  humi- 
liation :  "  Even  so.  Father,  for  so  it 
seemeth  good  in  Thy  sight !  "  And  what 
supplied  material  for  comfort  and  joy  to 
an  Almighty  Sufferer,  may  well  dry  the 
tears  and  soothe  the  pangs  of  His  suffer- 
ing people. 

0  how  sinners  may  magnify  their 
God  by  a  calm  submission  to  His  will, 
seeing  no  hand  but  One  in  their  trials 
— in  giving  or  taking  :  "  The  Lord  gave 
—  the  Lord  taketh  away  !  "  "Who 
knoweth  not  in  all  these  thiugs  the  hand 
of  the  Lord  hath  done  this  ?  " 

"  Till  Death  the  weary  spirit  free, 
My  God  hath  said,  'Tis  good  for  tbee 


54  THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 

To  walk  in  faith,  and  not  by  sight. 

Take  it  on  trust  a  little  while, 
Soon  Shalt  thou  read  the  mystery  right 

In  the  full  sunshine  of  His  smile  I  " 

Will  it  not  further  help  to  the  breath- 
ing of  the  prayer,  "  Thy  will  be  done/ 
when  I  think,  in  connection  with  tho 
Sov^ereignty  of  God,  of  the  grand  end 
of  His  immutable  decrees — '*  It  is  His 
own  glory!"  "0/"  Him  and  through 
Him,  and  to  Him,  are  all  things !  "  What 
more  can  I  desire  ? — "  all  things."  God's 
glory  and  my  own  good  ! — 

"  I   WILL    UOTH   LAY  MB  DOWN  IN  PT3ACK  AND  SUIBP  ; 
FOB   THOU,  LOUD,  ONLT   MAKEST  MB  DWSU. 

IJJ  SAFSTT  I  " 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  56 


14th  Night. 
"I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  "Watches." 

"  His  kingdom  ruleth  over  all." — Ps.  ciii.  19. 

^,  My  Soul!    try  to    see 

m  «tt  Q^(j  ij^  everything,  and 
f  XnmflPnre.  everything  in  God  !  Lose 
thine  own  will  in  His.  Enter  on  no 
pursuit,  engage  in  no  plan,  without 
Paul's  prayer  and  condition,  "  If  so  the 
will  of  the  Lord  be."  How  it  would 
hallow  prosperity  and  sweeten  adversity, 
thus,  in  all  things,  to  follow  like  Israel 
the  Guiding  Pillar— at  ffis  bidding  to 
pitch  our  tents — at  Eis  bidding  to  strike 
for  march.  Each  providence  has  a  voice, 
if  we  would  only  hear  it.  It  is  a  finger- 
post in  the  journey,  pointing  us  to  "  the 
right  way,  that  .we  may  go  to  the  city  of 
habitation !" 

Often  what  a  mystic  volume  Provi- 
dence is ! — its  every  page  full  of  dark 
hieroglyphics,  to  which  earth  can  fur- 
aish  no  key.  But  faith  falls  back  on 
the  assurance  that  "the  Judge  of  all 


56  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

the  earth  must  do  right " — the  Father 
of  all  His  people  cannot  do  wrong.  To 
the  common  observer,  the  stars  in  the 
nightly  hearens  are  all  confused  masses 
pursuing  devious  and  erratic  courses. 
But  to  the  astronomer  each  has  its 
allotted  and  prescribed  pathway,  and  all 
are  preserving  inviolate  one  universal 
law  of  harmony  and  order.  It  is  faith's 
loftiest  prerogative,  patiently  to  wait  till 
that  day  of  disclosures,  when  page  by 
page  of  the  mystic  book  will  be  unrav- 
elled, and  when  the  believer  himself 
will  endorse  every  page  with,  "  It  is 
well ! '' 

Providences  may  even  seem  to  be 
getting  darker,  merging  like  declining 
day  into  the  shadows  of  twilight.  But, 
contrary  to  nature,  and  to  the  Chris- 
tian's expectations,  "  At  evening  time  it 
shall  be  light !  "  The  gathering  cloud 
will  then  be  seen  to  be  fraught  only 
with  blessings  which  will  burst  on  the 
Believer's  head. 


THE    NIGHT    WATCHES.  57 

My  soul !  "  be  still,  and  know  that 
He  is  God  !  "  "  Rest  in  the  Lord,  and 
wait  patiently  for  him."  Tlie  mysteri- 
ous "  wherefore  "  thou  hast  so  long  been 
waiting  for  will  soon  be  revealed.  The 
long  night-watch  will  soon  terminate — 
in  the  long  looked-for,  longed-for  morn- 
ing! 

"  My  God  !  My  Father  !  while  I  stray 
Far  from  ray  home  on  life's  rough  way. 
0  teach  me  from  my  h  -art  to  say — 
Thy  will  be  doue  ! 

Then  when  on  eartli  I  l)rL'alhs  no  m  )re 
The  prayer  oft  mixed  with  tears  before^ 
I'll  sing,  when  on  a  happier  shore — 
Thy  will  be  doue  !  " 

Blessed  Lord !  my  pilgrimage  path  is 
studded  thick  with  Ebenezers  testifying 
to  Thy  faithfulness  and  mercy.  I  love 
to  think  of  Thy  manifold  gracious  inter- 
positions in  the  past! — God  sustaining 
me  in  trial — God  supporting  me  in 
perplexity— God  rescuing  me  when  in 
temptation — God  helping  me  when  "vain 
was  the  help  of  man !  "     "  When  my 


58  THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 

foot  slipped,  Thy  mercy,  0  Lord,  held 
me  up !  "  And  shall  I  not  take  all  Thy 
goodness  manifested  hitherto  as  a  pledge 
of  faithfulness  in  the  future?  In  full 
confidence  of  my  God  being  a  "  rich 
Provider,"  I  shall  take  no  thought  for 
the  morrow  but  repose  in  this  covenant 
assurance  of  a  covenant-keeping  God ! 
— "  I  will  never  fail  thee  nor  forsake 
thee ! "  "  Thou  hast  been  my  help, 
tlierefort  in  the  shadow  of  Thy  wings 
will  I  rejoice !  " 


J  WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME   DOWN  IN  PEA  CE  AND 
rOB  TUOF,  LORD,  ONLY  MAKEST  MB  DWHU. 
DTBAyiPrY  !" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  59 


lo.-u  NrGHT 

"  I  mediiate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"Thy  word  is  a  lain;)  to  aiy  feet." — Ps.  cxix.  105. 

.,  Man's  word  disappoints — God's 
M\  word,  never!  "The  Word  of 
^^^^'  the  Lord  is  tried."  It  has  been 
tried  by  the  sinner  ;  he  neglected  it  and 
perished!  It  has  been  tried  by  the 
saint ;  he  has  believed  it  and  been  saved! 

What  a  precious  legacy  of  G-od  to  our 
world  !  The  volume  of  nature,  much  as 
it  teaches,  is  dumb  on  the  question  of 
a  sinner's  acceptance.  The  Scriptures 
alone  can  solve  the  enigma,  "How  is 
G^d  to  deal  with  the  guilty  ?"  That 
question  unanswered — in  peace  we  could 
not  live,  in  peace  we  dared  not  die ! 
But  glad  tidings,  oh !  precious  messenger 
from  God,  hast  thou  brought  to  a 
doomed  earth— "  God  so  loved  the 
world,  that  He  gave  His  only-begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him 
might  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 


60  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

life !"  Were  there  no  more  in  this 
DiviDe  communication  than  that  one 
brief  entry,  the  Bible  would  still  be 
better  to  us  than  "  thousands  of  gold 
and  silver." 

But  it  is  a  vast  magazine  and  empo- 
rium of  heavenly  wisdom — free  to  all — 
suited  for  all — intended  for  all — offered 
to  all ; — an  inexhaustible  mine — the 
deeper  you  dig,  the  richer  the  ore.  Il 
has  a  word  in  season  for  rich  and  poor, 
young  and  old — for  the  wandering — the 
doubting — the  sorrowing — the  believing 
— the  dying — the  perishing  !  Reader  ! 
sit  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  in  His  Word, 
and  with  the  docility  of  a  little  child, 
say,  "  Speak,  Lord !"  Approach  it 
ever  as  if  it  met  you  with  the  living 
salutation,  "  I  have  a  message  from  God 
for  theeT  There  are  differences  in 
every  heart-chamber,  but  this  key  fits 
every  door.  Make  it  a  faithful  mirror, 
in  which  you  see  a  reflection  of  yourself. 
The   more  faithfully  it  is  held  up,  the 


THE    NIGHT   WATCHES.  61 

more  will  the  sense  of  deficiency  and 
defilement  drive  you  to  the  atoning 
blood ! 

In  all  your  difficulties,  make  it  *'  the 
man  of  your  counsel  ;"  in  all  your  per- 
plexities, make  it  your  interpreter  and 
guide  ;  in  all  your  sorrows,  make  it  your 
fountain  of  consolation  ;  in  all  your 
temptations,  make  it  your  ultimate  court 
of  appeal.  When  venturing  on  debata- 
ble ground,  let  this  deter  thee — "  What 
saith  the  Scripture?"  When  assailed, 
let  this  protect  and  defend  thee — "  It  is 
written !" 

•  Precious  at  all  times,  it  is  especially 
precious  in  "  the  dark  and  cloudy  day.'' 
We  may  do  without  our  beacon  by  day  ; 
but  where  are  we  without  it  in  the  mid- 
uiglit  tempestuous  sea  ?  "  I  should  have 
perished,"  says  a  sinking  cast-away,  "  in 
mine  affliction,  but  Thy  Word  hath 
quickened  mc." 

"  Oft  as  I  lay  mc  down  to  rest 
0  ma>  the  reconciliug  Word 


62  THE   NIGHT    WATCHES. 

Sweetly  compose  my  weary  breast ; 

While  on  the  bosom  of  my  Lord 
I  sink  in  blissful  dreams  away, 
And  visions  of  eternal  day  !" 


Be  it  mine  to  look  forward  to  tliat 
Ijlessed  time,  when  the  intei-vention  of 
that  Word,  and  all  other  means  of  grace, 
will  terminate,  for  in  heaven  "  they 
need  no  candle !"  Meanwhile,  pillow- 
ing my  head  on  the  Word  of  the  eternal 
God,  and  with  these  glorious  prospects 
in  view — 


I  WILL    BOTU    LAY    ME    DOWN    IN     PEACE    AND    gLBKP ; 

FOB  THOr,  LOED,  ONLY  MAKE8T  MS  DWVIJL 

IN  SArBTTl" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  63 


16th     N'lGHT. 

"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

'  With  joy  shall  yc  draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of  salva- 
tion."— Isa.  xii.  3. 

.      ^t         My  Soul!   thou  art  here 

Minmm.  ^  ^iMemess  is  thy  phice 
of  sojourn  ;  but  Immanuel  has  provided 
wells  in  this  Baca — this  vale  of  weeping 
— for  the  refreshment  of  His  pilgrims  ! 
In  merciful  adaptation  to  their  weakness 
and  wants,  He  has  furnished  means  and 
instrumentality  to  keep  alive  the  flame 
that  would  otherwise  languish  and  decay. 
These  are  the  golden  pipes  which  convey 
the  living  water  to  the  soul,  fed  by 
Christ  himself  from  the  great  cistern  of 
His  own  grace. 

Reader !  dost  thou  love  the  ordinances 
of  God's  appointment?  Is  the  Sabbath 
to  thee  a  holy  and  welcome  season? 
Dost  thou  gladly  respond  to  the  sum- 
mons, "  Go  ye  up  into  the  house  of  the 
Lord  "  ?     Hast  thou  felt  that  it  is  there 


64  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

that ''  He  commands  the  blessing,  even 
life  for  evermore  "  ?  Or,  holier  ground 
still, — do  you  rejoice,  as  the  solemn  sea- 
son comes  round,  to  covenant  afresh  with 
your  adorable  Redeemer  at  His  own 
table — to  record  anew  your  unalterable 
attachment  to  Him  as  your  Lord  and 
Master,  and  commemorate  His  dying, 
ever-living  love  ? 

See  that  it  be  not  the  reverse  of  all 
this.  Do  the  hours  of  the  Sabbath,  once 
a  delight — "  day  of  all  the  week  the 
best  " — hang  heavily  upon  you  ?  Is 
prayer  less  a  privilege  than  it  was  ?  Is 
the  closet  less  habitually  frequented? 
Is  the  fire  burning  with  a  sicklier  glow 
on  the  domestic  altar  ?  Have  the  ser- 
vices of  the  sanctuary  become  more 
matter  for  the  head  than  for  the  heart  ? 
Be  assured  these  are  lamentable  symp- 
toms of  declension — tokens  of  a  back- 
ward and  downward  state.  "Ye  did 
run  well — who  did  hinder  you  ?"  Re- 
turn forthwith  to  the  deserted  closet — 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  65 

crucify  forthwith  the  deadening  sin. 
Hast  thou  not  abjured  it,  over  and  over, 
at  a  communion  table  ?  Why  suffer  it 
again  to  have  dominion  over  thee — 
robbing  thee  of  all  thy  joy— extracting 
all  relish  from  ordinances— impeding 
grace — grieving  the  Spirit?  Lose  no 
time  in  seeking  restoration  of  lost  filial 
nearness.  "  Restore  unto  me  the  joy  of 
Thy  salvation."  The  lost  Bride,  in  the 
Canticles,  found  her  Lord  beside  the 
"  Shepherds'  tents  ;"  and  "  of  Zion,  it 
shall  be  said.  The  Lord  shall  count,  when 
He  writeth  up  the  people,  that  this 
man  Avas  born  there  T  Thou  mayest 
sometimes  have  long  to  wait  at  the  Gos- 
pel Bethesdas  without  any  visible  bless- 
ing ;  but,  be  assured,  the  Angel  of  the 
Covenant  will  in  due  time  come  down, 
and  shew  that  He  "  is  good  to  them  that 
wait  for  Him— to  the  soul  that  seeketh 
Him  !"  "  Wait,  then,  on  the  Lord  ;  be 
of  good  courage,  and  He  shall  strengthen 
thine  heart !" 


66  THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 

My  soul !  value  ordinances,  but  do  not 
overvalue  them.  Put  not  ordinances  in 
the  place  of  the  God  of  ordinances.  They 
are  at  best  but  the  pole  to  hold  up  the 
brazen  serpent  upon — the  scaffolding  by 
which  to  get  up  beside  the  Chief  cor- 
ner-stone. "  Hold  Thou  me  up,  and  1 
shall  be  safe !"  It  is  not  the  altar  of 
God,"  but  "  God  Himself;'  who  is  "  the 
exceeding  joy  "  of  His  people  ;  and  thus, 
even  if  wasting  health  and  pining  sick- 
ness should  deprive  me  of  outward 
ordinances,  I  may  look  upwards  to  that 
God  who,  though  He  "  loves  the  gates 
of  Zion,"  does  not  forget  "  the  dwell- 
ings of  Jacob,"  and  say — 


1  WILL  BOTH  LAY  MB  DOWN   IN  PKACB  AND  SLSBP ; 
FOB  THOU,  LOED,  ONLY  MAKEST  MB  DWXU. 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  67 


17.-H  Night 

**I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"  Take  uot  Thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me."— Ps.  li.  ]1. 

^,  "  It  is  expedient  for  you," 
|l^P^  said  Jesus,  "  That  I  go  away  : 
|>)lhli-  fQj,  if  I  ^Q  not  away,  the  Com- 
forter will  not  come  unto  you  ;  but  if  I 
depart,  I  will  send  Him  unto  you."  How 
momentous  must  be  the  agency  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  when  the  adorable  Redeem- 
er represented  the  blank  of  His  own  de- 
parture as  being  more  than  indemnified 
to  His  Church  by  the  presence  of  this 
Divine  Paraclete ! 

"It  is  the  Spirit  that  quickeneth." 
It  is  He  who  is  the  agent  in  the  new 
birth  :  "  Except  a  man  be  born  of  water, 
and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  heaven."  It  is  He  who 
enables  the  sinner  by  faith  to  lay  hold 
on  Jesus,  and  embrace  His  salvation  : 
"  No  man  can  call  Jesus  Lord,  but  by 
the  Holy  Ghost."  It  is  He  who  carries 
on  the  progressive  work  of  holiness  ; — 


68  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

we  are  saved  "  through  sanctifica  tion  of 
the  Spirit."  It  is  He  who  creates  anew 
the  lost  image  of  the  Godhead,  impresses 
on  the  soul  the  lineaments  of  the  Sa- 
viour's character — "  We  are  transform- 
ed into  the  same  image  from  glory  to 
glory  by  the  Lord  the  Spirit"  (marg.) 
It  is  He  who  illumines  the  page  of  the 
Divine  Record — acting  like  a  telescope 
to  the  moral  vision — disclosing  in  the 
firmament  of  inspiration  "  wondrous 
things"  contained  in  the  law,  which  the 
natural  eye  cannot  see.  It  is  He  who 
unfolds  the  glories  of  the  Kedeemer's 
work — the  beauties  of  His  person — the 
completeness  of  -His  sacrifice — the  riches 
of  His  grace  ; — "  He  shall  glorify  Me  ; 
for  He  shall  receive  of  mine,  and  shall 
shew  it  unto  you."  Nay,  the  soul  of 
the  believer  becomes  itself  a  temple  of 
the  Holy  Ghost !  Oh  !  with  what  holy 
jealousy  would  the  child  of  God  guard 
every  avenue  to  temptation,  if  this 
amazing    truth    exercised   its    habitual 


THE    NIGHT   WATCHES.  69 

and  solemnizing  power  over  him — "  The 
Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  within  me !" 
How  would  he  avoid  anything  and  every- 
thing by  Avhicli  he  would  be  likely  to 
"grieve"  this  blessed  Agent,  "  whereby 
he  is  sealed  until  the  day  of  redemp- 
tion !" 

"  Behold  !"  He  seems  to  say,  "  I  make 
all  things  new."  The  initial  operation 
is  His — He  broods  over  the  face  of  the 
spiritual  chaos,  saying,  "Let  there  be 
light."  The  closing  and  consummating 
grace  is  His, — He  conducts  the  spirit 
through  the  swellings  of  Jordan,  till  it 
joins  with  the  ransomed  multitude  be- 
fore the  throne,  in  ascribing  to  Father, 
Bon,  and  Holy  Ghost,  the  glories  of  a 
completed  salvation. 

"  Take  not,  then,  0  God  !  thy  Holy 
Spirit  from  me."  In  vain  are  the  word, 
ordinances,  sacraments,  sermons,  pray- 
ers,  without  Him.  All  are  in  thomselveg 
passive  instruments  ;  His  is  the  omnipo- 
tent arm  which  wields  and  vanquishes. 


70  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

Our  adorable  Redeemer — the  great 
High  Priest — was  Himself  anointed  with 
the  Holy  Spirit.  That  anointing  oil, 
poured  upon  the  Church's  living  Head, 
"runs  down  to  the  skirts  of  His  gar- 
ment," anointing,  as  it  flows,  all  His 
members,  and  those  that  are  lowest  and 
humblest — (nearest  the  skirts)— receive 
the  most ! 

My  soul !  if  this  be  thy  position — at 
the  feet  of  Jesus — the  blessed  influences 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  streaming  down  upon 
thee  in  copious  effusion,  sanctifying  thee 
more  and  more,  and  making  thee  more 
meet  for  glory — then  thou  mayest  well 
say,  night  after  night,  until  the  day 
spring  of  that  glory  burst  upon  thee — 

"  I  -WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOVrN  IN  PEACE  AWD  SLBBP; 

FOB  THOU,  LORD,  ONLY  MAKE8T  MB  DWILL 

m  SAFETY  1  " 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  71 


18th  Night. 

"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"All  the  promises  of  God  in  Him  are  Yea,  and  in  Him 
Amen."— 2  Cor.  i.  20. 

God  has  made  a  Will,  or 
Testament,  in  behalf  of  His 
|)rmniSB5.  people!  It  is  signed  and 
sealed.  It  cannot  be  altered— nothing 
can  denude  us  of  our  patrimony.  The 
bequest  is  His  own  "  exceeding  great 
and  precious  promises."  What  a  heri- 
tage ! — All  that  the  sinner  requires — all 
that  the  sinner's  God  can  give.  In  this 
testamentary  deed  there  are  no  contin- 
gencies, no  peradventures.  The  testator 
commences  it  with  the  sure  guarantee 
for  its  every  jot  and  tittle  being  fulfilled, 
*'  Verily,  verily,  /  say  unto  you !"  He 
endorses  every  promise  and  every  page, 
with  a  "  Yea,  and  Amen."  "  God,  wil- 
ling more  abundantly  to  shew  to  the 
heirs  of  promise  the  immutability  of  His 
counsel,  confirmed  it  by  an  oath  !" 
But  whr  provided  such  a  rich  Promise 


72  THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 

Treasury  ?  What  is  the  source,  where 
the  fountain-head,  from  which  these 
streams  of  mercy  flow  to  the  Church  ? 
"  In  Him."  Believer  !  from  Jesus  every 
promise  is  derived  —  in  Jesus  every 
promise  centres  !  Pardon,  peace,  adop- 
tion, consolation,  eternal  life — all  "  in 
Him."  In  Him  you  are  "  chosen," 
"called,"  "justified,"  "sanctified,"  "glo- 
rified." You  have  in  possession  all  the 
blessings  of  present  grace  ;  you  have  in 
reversion  all  the  happiness  of  coming 
glory  :  and  "  He  is  faithful  that  prom- 
ised !"  Your  friend  may  deceive  thee 
— the  world  has  deceived  you — He  never 
will !  Myriads  in  glory  are  there  to 
tell  how  "  not  one  thing  hath  failed 
of  all  that  the  Lord  their  God  hath 
spoken."  Rely  on  this  faithfulness — 
lie  gave  His  Son  for  you.  After  the 
greater  blessing,  surely  for  subordinate 
ones  you  may  trust  Him. 

And  where  do  these  promises  beam 
most  brightly  ?     Like  the  stars,  it  is  in 


THE   NIGHT    WATCHES.  73 

the  night !  In  the  midnight  of  trial— 
when  the  sun  of  earthly  prosperity  has 
set— when  deep  is  calling  to  deep,  and 
wave  to  wave  ;  when  tempted,  bereaved, 
beaten  down  with  "  a  great  fight  of 
afflictions  "  —  the  spiritual  firmament, 
with  its  galaxy  of  Promises,  will  be 
brightest  and  clearest ! 

"  Oh  !  who  conkl  bear  life's  stormy  doom, 
Did  not  Thy  Word  of  Love 
Come  brightly  bearing  through  the  gloom 

A  palm-branch  from  above? 
Then  sorrow  touch'd  by  Thee  grows  bright, 

With  more  than  rapture's  ray  ; 
As  darkness  shews  us  worlds  of  light 
We  never  saw  by  day  !" 

But  be  not  deceived  ;  the  night  of 
sorrow  cannot  in  itself  give  you  the 
comfort  of  the  Divine  Promises.  It  may 
be  night,  and  yet  the  stars  invisible.  It 
is  only  "  in  Fliin  "  these  promises  can 
be  discerned  in  their  lustre.  My  soul ! 
if  "  out  of  Christ,"  these  stars  of  Gos- 
pel promise  shine  in  vain  to  thee  ;  they 
have  to  the  unspi ritual  eye  no  beauty 


74  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

or  brightness.  In  the  midnight  battle 
of  Barak,  "  the  stars  in  their  course 
fought  against  Sisera."  They  shone  on 
Israel,  but  denied  their  light  to  the 
enemies  of  God.  The  guiding  pillar,  so 
lustrous  to  the  chosen  people,  was  a 
column  of  portentous  gloom  to  Pharaoh's 
host. 

But  "m  Him;'  as  "heirs  of  God," 
ye  are  inheritors  of  "  all  the  promises." 
All  the  promises!  Oh!  with  such  a 
pillow  whereon  to  rest  your  aching  head, 
you  may  well  resume  your  nightly 
song — 


'l  WrLL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOWN   IN  PEACE  AND  8LBKP  ; 

FOB  THOTT,  LORD,  ONLY  MAKE8T  ME  DWELL 

DJ  8AFBTT  I" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  75 


19th  Night. 

"I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"  And  that  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty." — 
Exodus  xxxiv.  7. 

.,      "  He    is   faithful   that  prom- 

!t»armng0  ciently  in  mind  another 
equal  fidelity— "  He  is  faithful"  tliat 
threatened  f  My  soul  !  ponder  that 
solemn  word,  "  who  will  hy  no  means 
clear  !"  Remember  ivhen  that  word  was 
spoken  :  it  was  in  connexion  with  a  sub- 
lime apocalypse  of  God's  majesty.  It 
was  as  "  the  '  glovi/  of  the  Lord"  was 
passing  before  Moses !  Was  not  this 
intended  to  show  that  there  is  an  awful 
and  inseparable  connexion  between  the 
Divine  glory  and  the  impossibility  of 
God's  clearing  the  guilty  ?  It  was  at  a 
time,  moreover,  when  the  benignity  of 
God  was  intended  to  be  more  specially 
manifested.  It  was  when  He  was  de- 
clared to  be  "  the  Lord,  the  Lord  God, 
merciful,  gracious,  long-suffering,  abun- 


"76  THE   NIGHT    WATCHES. 

dant  in  goodness."  Then  it  was,  we 
listen  to  the  awful  note  of  warning,  that 
"clear  llie  guilty"  He  ivill  not,  and 
cannot!  His  law  requires — the  honour 
of  His  throne  requires — demands  that 
the  guilty  be  "  owt  cleared." 

Reader !  art  thou  still  clinging  to  the 
dream  of  final  mercy?  Dost  thou  be- 
lieve in  the  first  part  of  the  Divine  proc- 
lamation at  Sinai,  and  persist  in  pre- 
sumptuous and  fatal  scepticism  with 
regard  to  the  last  ? — that,  boundless  in 
His  resources,  and  infinite  in  His  love, 
God  will  by  some  means  "  clear  the 
guilty  "  ? 

Be  not  deceived  !  See  tliat  ye  do  not 
incur  the  woe  of  him  who  "  striveth  with 
liis  Maker  !"  The  Lord,  who  "  is  not 
slack  concerning  His  promises,"  can  bo 
as  little  slack  concerning  His  threaten- 
ings.  Time  blunts  the  wrath  of  man, 
and  chastens  and  subdues  the  turbulence 
of  his  passions  ;  but  there  is  no  blind 
impulse — no  vacillation    in   Him    with 


THE    NIGHT    WATCHES.  77 

wliom  "a  thousand  3^ears  are  as  one 
day/'  "  God's  threatenings,"  says  a 
writer,  "  are  God's  doings !"  The  law 
has  not  one  breathing  of  mercy  for  you. 
There  is  not  one  cleft  in  all  Mount  Sinui 
where  you  can  escape  the  vengeance  of 
the  storm  !  Unless  you  flee  without  de- 
lay to  Him  who  has  "  cleared  the  guilty'* 
by  Himself — the  Guiltless — becoming 
the  guilt-bearer,  be  assured  that  through 
eternity  "  you  will  hy  no  jneans  be 
cleared." 

My  soul !  art  thou  yet  in  this  state  of 
perilous  estrangement?  still  launched  on 
the  cheerless  ocean  of  uncertainty,  leav- 
ing everything  to  a  dying  hour,  the 
time  to  which  nothing  should  be  left,  but 
to  die  !  Ponder  these  living  words  of  un- 
changing truth — "  Though  hand  join  in 
hand,  the  wicked  shall  not  escape  un- 
punished." The  golden  chain  of  grace 
stretches  from  heaven  to  earth,  but  it 
can  go  no  further — "  Seek  ye  the  Lord 
while   He    mav   be   found."     "  While/' 


78  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

There  is  solemn  warning  in  tliat  one 
word!  It  tells  thee  there  is  a  day 
coming  when  the  Lord  will  be  sought, 
but  will  not  be  "found.'^ 

"  Time's  sun  is  fast  sotting — its  twilight  is  nigh- 
Its  evening  is  falling  in  cloud  o'er  the  sky  ; 
Its  shadows  are  stretching  in  ominous  gloom  ; 
Its  midnight  approaches — the  midnight  of  doom  I 
Then  haste,  sinner,  haste,  there  is  mercy  for  thee, 
And  wrath  is  preparing — flee,  lingerer,  flee  I" 

Reader !  cast  thyself  this  night  at  His 
footstool ;  implore  His  mercy.  Rise  not 
from  thy  bended  knees,  until,  with  His 
propitiated  smile  gladdening  thee,  and 
the  hope  of  His  heaven  cheering  thee, 
thou  may  est  (it  may  be  for  the  first  time 
in  thy  life)  lie  down  with  a  quiet  con- 
science and  a  pardoned  soul  on  thy 
nightly  couch,  exclaiming — 

'  I  WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOWN  IN  PEACE  AND  SLEEP  ; 
FOB  THOU,  lORD,  ONLY  MAKEST  ME  DWETi 
DISAyKTY  I" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  79 


20th  Night. 
"I  meditate  oa  Thae  in  the  Niglit  Watches." 

"  For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  Ho  chasu-neth." — Heb.  xii.  6. 

.     y.  Chastisement  !  —  The 

(DK  (liptt  family  badge— the  family 
Clin^tlSmrntS.  piedge_the  family  ^W^- 
liege  ! — "  To  you  it  is  given  to  suffer ^ 
"  Troubles,"  says  a  good  man,  "  are  in 
God's  catalogue  of  mercies."  Afflic- 
tions," says  another,  "  are  God's  hired 
labourers  to  break  the  clods  and  plough 
tb<3  land." 

Believer !  is  the  hand  of  thy  God 
heavy  upon  thee  ?  Has  He  been  break- 
ing thy  cisterns,  withering  thy  gourds, 
poisoning  thy  sweetest  fountains  of 
earthly  bliss ?  Are  the  world's  bright 
spots  outnumbered  by  the  dreary  ?  Has 
one  tear  been  following  another  in  quick 
succession  ?  Thou  may  est  have  to  tell, 
perhaps,  of  a  varied  experience  of  trials. 
Every  tender  point  touched— sickness, 
bereavement,  poverty — all  !     Be  still  I 


80  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

If  thou  art  a  child  of  God,  there  is  no 
exemption  from  the  "  househokl  dis- 
cipline." Tlie  rod  is  a  father's  ;  the 
voice  that  speaks  may  be  rough,  but 
the  hand  that  smites  is  gentle.  The 
furnace  may  be  seven  times  heated, 
but  the  Refiner  is  seated  by.  His  object 
is  not  to  consume,  but  to  purify.  Do 
uot  misinterpret  His  dealings  ;  there  is 
mercy  on  the  wings  of  "  the  rough 
wind."  Our  choicest  fountains  are  fed 
from  dark  lowering  clouds.  All,  be 
assured,  will  yet  bear  the  stamp  of  love. 
Sense  cannot  discern  yet  "  the  bright 
light  in  the  clouds."  Aged  Jacob  ex- 
claimed at  first,  "  All  these  things  are 
against  me ;"  but  at  last  he  had  a  calmer 
and  a  juster  verdict,  "  His  spirit  re- 
vived!" "At  evening  time  it  was  light." 
The  saint  on  earth  can  say,  regarding 
his  trials,  in  faith  and  in  trust,  "I  hnow^ 
0  Lord,  that  Thy  judgments  are  light." 
The  saint  in  glory  can  go  a  step  farther, 
"  I  see,  0  Lord,  that  they  are  so  !  "    His 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  81 

losses  wil]  then  be  shewn  to  be  his  riches. 
Believer !  on  a  calm  retrospect  of  thy 
heaviest  afflictions — say,  were  they  un- 
uoeded  ?  Was  this  (what  Augustine 
calls)  "  the  severe  mercy  of  God's  dis- 
cipline"— was  it  too  severe  ?  Less  would 
not  have  done.  Like  Jonah,  thou  never 
wouldst  have  awoke  but  for  the  storm ! 
lie  may  have  led  thee  to  a  Zarephath 
("  a  place  of  furnaces "),  but  it  is  to 
shew  thee  there  "  one  like  unto  the  Son 
of  God ! "  When  was  God  ever  so 
near  to  thee,  or  thou  to  thy  God,  as  in 
the  furnace-fires  ?  When  was  the  pres- 
ence and  love  and  sympathy  of  Jesus 
so  precious  ?  When  "  the  Beloved  " 
comes  down  from  "  the  Mountain  of 
Myrrh"— the  "Hill  of  Frankincense" 
— to  His  "  Garden  on  Earth,"  He  can 
get  no  fragrance  from  some  plants  but 
by  bruising  them.  The  spices  in  the 
Temple  of  old  were  bruised.  The  gold 
of  its  candlestick  was  beaidn  gold !  It 
WQS  when  the  Mar ah-foun tain  of  thy 
6 


82  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

heart  was  bitter  with  sin,  that  he  cast 
in  some  cross — some  trial — and  ''  the 
waters  were  made  sweet !  " 

My  soul,  be  still  !  Thou  hast  in  afflic- 
tion one  means  of  glorifying  God,  whicli 
even  angels  have  not  in  a  sorrowless 
world  : — Patience  under  the  rod — Sub- 
mission to  thy  Heavenly  Father's  will ! 
Pray  not  to  have  thine  affliction  re- 
moved, but  for  grace  to  bear  up  under 
it,  so  that  thou  mayest  glorify  God  even 
"  in  the  fires  ;"  and,  remembering  that 
though  "  weeping  endureth  for  a  night, 
joy  Cometh  in  the  morning,"  close  thy 
tearful  eyes,  saying — 

"  I  WILL  BOTH   LAY  MB  DOWN  IN  PEACE  AND  SLEEP  ; 

I'OB  THOU,  LORD,   ONLY  MAKBST  MB  DWELL 

W  SAFETY  I" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  83 


21ST  Nium; 

"I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

♦♦  Him  that  cometb  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  oat." — 
John  vi.  37. 

.      ^1       In   no   wise!    How   broad 
^(Dll  ^^ptt     .g   ^YiG    door    of   welcome! 

:3nnrtatiQns,  u  q^^^„  g^^g  ^  j^^j^  ^^iter, 

"  is  like  one  ou  his  knees,  with  tears  in 
his  eyes,  and  extreme  fervour  in  his 
soul,  beseeching  the  sinner  to  be  saved !" 
He  met  the  prodigal  son  half-way.  Ere 
the  ungrateful  wanderer  could  stammer 
forth  through  penitential  tears  the  con- 
fession of  his  sins,  the  arms  of  mercy 
were  around  him.  The  prodigal  thought 
of  no  more  than  the  meniaFs  place  :  the 
Father  had  in  readiness  the  best  robe 
and  the  fatted  calf!  "  There  is  no  such 
argument,"  says  Bishop  Reynolds,  "  for 
our -turning  to  God,  as  His  turning  to 
us."  He  has  the  first  word  in  the  over- 
tures of  mercy.  He  refuses  none — He 
welcomes  all ! — The  poor — the  wretched 
— the  blind — the  naked — the  burdened 


84  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

— the  heavy-iaden  ; — the  hardened  sin- 
ner— the  aged  sinner — the  daring  sinner 
— the  dying  sinner — all  are  invited  to 
the  conference  :  "  Come  now,  and  let  us 
reason  together !"  The  most  parched 
tongue  that  laps  the  streams  from  the 
smitten  rock  has  everlasting  life  I 
"  When  ive  forgive,  it  costs  us  an  effort ; 
when  God  forgives,  it  is  His  delight." 
From  th«  Imt dements  of  heaven  He  is 
calling  after  us  :  "  Turn  ye !  turn  ye  1 
Why  will  ye  die  ?"  He  seems  to  won- 
der if  sinners  have  pleasure  in  their  own 
death.     He  declares,  "  /  have  none  /" 

Reader  !  have  you  yet  closed  with  the 
Gospel's  free  invitations?  Have  you 
gone  just  as  you  are — with  all  the  rag- 
gcdness  of  Nature's  garments — standing 
in  your  own  nothingness — feeling  tliat 
you  are  insolvent — that  you  have  •'no- 
thing to  pay" — already  a  bankrupt,  and 
the  debt  always  increasing  ?  Have  you 
taken  hold  of  that  blessed  assurance, 
"  He  is  able  to  save  unto  the  uttermost"  ? 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  85 

Are  you  resting  3^our  eternal  all  on 
Hira  who  has  done  all  and  suffered  all 
Tor  you  ;  leaving  you,  "  without  money 
and  without  price,"  a  free,  full,  uncondi- 
tional offer  of  a  great  salvation  ?  Say 
not  your  sins  are  too  many — the  crimson 
dye  too  deep.  It  is  because  you  are  a 
great  sinner,  and  have  great  sins,  that 
you  need  a  great  Saviour.  "  Of  whom 
T  am  the  chief, ^^  is  a  golden  posti'-cnpt  to 
the  "  faithful  saying." 

Do  not  dishonour  God  by  casting 
doubts  on  His  ability  or  willingness.  If 
your  sins  are  heinous,  you  will  be  all  the 
greater  monument  of  grace.  You  may 
be  the  weakest  and  unworthiest  of  ves- 
sels ;  but,  remember,  there  was  a  niche 
in  the  temple  for  great  and  for  small — • 
for  "  vessels  of  cups"  as  well  as  for  ''  ves- 
sels of  flagons  :" — ay,  and  the  smallest 
vessel  glorifies  Christ ! 

Arise !  then,  call  upon  thy  God !  We 
cannot  say,  with  the  king  of  Nineveh, 
"  Who  can  tell  if  God  will  turn  ?"     He 


86  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

is  "  turning"  now — importunately  plead- 
ing and  averring,  on  His  own  immutable 
word,  that  He  will  "r/z  no  wise  cast 
out !"  "  Though  ye  have  lien  among 
the  pots,  ye  shall  be  as  doves,  whose 
wings  are  covered  with  silver,  and  their 
feathers  with  yellow  gold  !"  Close  with- 
out delay  with  these  precious  invitations, 
that,  so  looking  up  to  a  reconciled  God 
and  Father  in  heaven,  you  may  even  this 
uight  say — 

"  I  AVILL  BOTH  LAV  ME  DOWN    IN  PEACE  AND  8LSEP  ; 

FOB  THOU,  LOBD,  ONLY  MAKE8T  MK  DWBLL 

Ul  aAFKTT  I" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  87 


22d  Night 

"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

''Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye    my  people,  saith  your  God  ■"— 
Isa.  xl.  1. 

^     v|         God's    people    are  often 
(Jll  Uijlj       ^^    ^Q    l^g    ''discouraged 

(CflnffllBtiuns.  ,,^^^„,g  „f  th3  ^^y  „  ^i„ 

the  bitterness  of  their  spirits,  they  are 
often  apt  to  say,  with  desponding  Zion, 
"  The  Lord  hath  forsaken  me  :"  or  with 
the  faithless  prophet,  "  It  is  better  for 
me  to  die  than  to  live." 

But  the  Christian  has  his  consolations 
too,  and  they  are  "  strong  consolations." 
The  "  still  small  voice"  mingles  with  the 
hurricane  and  the  storm.  The  bush 
burns  with  fire,  but  the  Great  God  is  in 
the  bush,  and  therefore  it  is  indestruc- 
tible !  "  The  Lord  liveth,  and  blessed 
be  my  rock  ;  and  let  the  God  of  my 
salvation  be  exalted!''  Earthly  consola- 
tions may  help  to  dry  one  tear,  but 
another  is  ready  to  flow  :  God  dries  all. 


88  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

There  is  no  want  in  the  aching  voids  of 
the  sinner's  heart  but  He  can  supply. 

Is  it  mercy  to  pardon  ?  I  can  look 
up  to  the  throne  of  the  most  high  God, 
and  see  Holiness  and  Righteousness,  and 
Justice  and  Truth,  all  bending  in  exult- 
ing harmouy  over  my  ruined  soul,  ex- 
claiming, "  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and 
worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ 
Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save 
sinners !" 

Is  it  grace  to  help  ?  I  can  look  up 
to  that  same  throne,  and  behold  seated 
thereon  a  Great  High  Priest ;  nay,  a 
mighty  "Prince,  having  power  with 
God,  and  prevailing" — "  prayer  without 
ceasing"  ascending  from  His  lips  in 
behalf  of  His  people.  When  Satau 
seeks  "  to  sift"  them  on  earth,  His  up- 
holding power  protects  them  in  heaven ! 
When  temptation  assails  them  in  their 
earthly  conflicts,  the  true  Moses  on  the 
Mount,  with  hands  that  never  "  grow 
heavy,"  makes   them   "  more  than  con- 


THE    NIGHT    WATCHES.  89 

qiierors."  When  trial  threatens  to 
\)rostrato  thorn.  He  identifies  Himself 
witli  the  sufferers — He  points  to  His 
own  sorrows,  to  show  them  how  light 
the  heaviest  of  earth's  sorrows  are! 
Even  over  the  o-loomy  portals  of  the 
grave  He  can  write,  "  Blessed  are  the 
dead!"  He  alone  felt  Death's  substance 
— His  people  only  "  see  the  shadow." 
He  makes  it  a  "  Valley  of  Achor," 
through  which  "  tlie  two  spies,  Faith  and 
Hope,"  fetch  back  Eslicol-pledges  of 
the  True  Land  of  Promise ! 

My  soul !  art  thou  now  weary,  or 
desponding  ?  Is  some  cross  heavy  on 
thee — some  trial  oppressing  thee — some 
thorn  in  the  flesh  sorely  lacerating 
thee?  Be  still!  He  will  make  His 
"  grace  sufficient  for  thee."  If  He  has 
allured  thee  into  the  wilderness,  it  is 
tliat  He  may  speak  comfortably  unto 
fhee.  He  has  an  antidote  for  every 
bosom — a  balm  for  every  heart — a  com- 
fort for  every  pang — a  solace  foi*  every 


90  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

tear.  "  In  the  multitude  of  my  thoughts 
within  me,  Thy  comforts  delight  my 
soul !" 

"  'Tis  my  happiness  below 

Not  to  live  without  the  cross, 
But  the  Saviour's  power  to  know, 
Sanctifying  every  loss. 

**  Trials  must  and  will  befall ; 
But  with  humble  faith  to  see 
Love  inscribed  upon  them  all — 
This  is  happiness  to  me  I 

"Trials  make  the  promise  sweet, 
Trials  give  new  life  to  prayer, 
Trials  bring  me  to  His  feet, 
Lay  me  low,  and  keep  me  there  !" 


'i    VVLL  BOTH  LAY  MB  DOWN  IN  PE.VOE  AND   SL»BP| 

FOE  THOU,  iOBD,  ONLY   MA.KE3T  MB  DWSUL 

IN  SAFBTY." 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  91 


— — ^~~^~"  2on  Night. 

"I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

«'  All  lUe  paths  of  the  Lord  are  mercy  and  truth  unto  such  as 
keep  His  co/ciia:it  and  His  testimonies."— Ps.  xxv.  10. 

"All  THE  Pa-ehs  ! "  It  is  no 
®K  ^9^  small  effort  of  faith  to  say  so 
^^fltpS.  _^iieii  blessings  are  blown 
upon  and  schemes  crossed,  and  fellow- 
pilgrims  (it  may  be  beloved  helpmeets 
in  our  spiritual  joys)  mysteriously  re- 
moved—to say,  "  All— ALL  is  mercy  !— 
,ill_ALL  is  well !  " 

But  they  are  "  the  paths  of  the  Lord  " 
—His  choosing  ;  and  be  assured  He  will 
"  lead  His  people  by  a  right  way."  It 
may  not  be  the  way  of  their  own  select- 
ing. It  may  be  the  very  last  they  would 
have  chosen.  But  when  He  leadeth  His 
Bheep,  ''He  goeth  before  them!''  The 
Shepherd  stakes  off  our  pasture-ground. 
He  guides  "the  footsteps  of  the  flock." 
He  will  lead  them  by  no  rougher  way 
than  He  sees  needful.  Does  a  father 
give  his  child  his  own  way  ?     If  ho  did, 


92  THE   NIGHT    WATCHES. 

it  would  be  his  ruin.  Will  God  sur- 
render us  to  our  own  truant  wills,  which 
are  Ijent  on  nothing  so  much  as  wander- 
ing farthest  from  the  Shepherd?  He 
knows  us  better — He  loves  us  better  ! 

My  soul !  it  is  the  loftiest  triumph  and 
l)rerogative  of  faith  to  have  no  way — no 
path  of  thine  own — but  with  childlike 
simplicity  and  reliance  to  say,  "  Teach 
me  Thy  paths  !  "  "  Undertake  Thou  for 
me !  "  Lead  me  ho  jo  soever  and  whereso- 
ever Thou  pleasest.  Let  it  be  through 
the  darkest,  loneliest,  thorniest  way — 
only  let  it  bring  me  nearer  Thyself. 

"  0  tell  me,  thou  life  and  dolight  of  my  soul, 

Where  the  flock  of  Thy  pasture  arc  feeding; 
I  seek  Thy  protection,  I  need  thy  control  ; 

I  would  go  where  my  Shepherd  is  leading. 
0  tell  me  the  place  where  thy  flocks  are  at  rest, 

Where  the  noontide  will  find  them  reposing  I 
The  tempest  now  rages,  my  soul  is  distrest, 

And  the  pathway  of  peace  I  am  losing  1 " 

0  that  we  could  keep  our  eye  not  so 
much  on  the  path,  as  on  the  bright 
wicket-gate  which  terminates  it !    When 


THE    NIGHT   WATCHES.  93 

8tanding  at  tliat  luminous  portal,  we 
shall  trace,  with  adoring  wonder,  the 
way  in  wliich  our  God  has  led  us,  dis- 
cerning the  "  need-be  "  of  every  tear- 
drop ; — and  to  the  question,  "  Is  it 
well  ?  "  to  which  often  on  earth  we  gave 
an  evasive  answer,  ready  with  an  unhesi- 
tating, "  It  is  well !  "  What  a  light  will 
then  be  flashed  on  these  three  oft  mys- 
terious words,  "  God  is  love  ! '"'  Then, 
at  least,  shall  we  be  able  to  add  the  joy- 
ful comment — *'  We  have  known  and 
believed  the  love  which  God  hath  to  us !  " 
Meanwhile,  my  soul  I  if  thou  art 
treading  a  path  of  sorrow,  consider,  as 
an  encouragement,  that  thy  Lord  and 
Master  trod  the  same  before  thee.  Be- 
hold !  as  He  toils  on  his  blood-stained 
journey,  how  submission  to  the  Divine 
will  forms  the  secret  of  His  support. 
"Even  so.  Father!"  "Not  my  will, 
but  Thine  be  done !  "  The  True  David 
was  strengthened  with  what  sustained 
His  typical  ancestor  in  a  dark  and  try- 


94  THE    NICxHT   WATCHES. 

ing  hour :  "  0  Lord,  thou  art  My  God!  " 
Believer !  if  it  be  thy  God  in  covenant 
who  is  leading  thee,  what  more  canst 
tliou  require  ?  ■'  His  ways  are  verity 
and  judgment  :'^  "  He  will  guide  thee, 
while  thou  livest,  by  His  counsel,  and 
afterward  receive  thee  into  His  glory  !  " 
My  God !  if  such  be  the  design  of  thy 
dealiiDgs  and  discipline, — 

'    I  MHU,  BOTH  r,AY  ME  DOWN    IN    PEACE   AND  9LKEP  ; 

nj*  THO  J,  LOKD,  ONLY  JIAKBST  MB  DITBLJ. 

!2r  fiiSlKT  !  " 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  95 


•24:TH   ^IGHT. 

"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"  Th«  secret  of  the  Lorfi  is  with  tliein  that  fear  Him,  and  He 
will  show  ihcm  his  covcuaut." — Fs.  xxv.  14. 


(fill  Cljit 


My  Soul  !  thy  God  has  some 

^       ,'      uiighty  Secret  to   confide  to 

^^^^^^-      thee  !  "^  What  is  this,  which  (a 

mystery  to  the  world)  is  to  be  conveyed 

in  whispers  into  the  ears  of  His  people  ? 

"  He  loill  sliew  them  His  Covenant !  " 

Listen  this  night  to  this  blessed  "  se- 
cret." Thou  hast  pondered  it  oft  be- 
fore. But  its  wonders  never  diminish 
by  repetition. 

The  Author  of  it  is  God — the  Eter- 
nal Father.  He  framed  its  articles 
before  the  foundation  of  the  world.  It 
is  an  inverted  order  of  truth  that  would 
represent  the  atonement  as  tlie  cause 
of  God's  love  :  that  love  was  rather  the 
originating  cause  of  the  atonement — 
''  God  so  loved  the  world  !  "  How  runs 
the  Covenant-Charter  ? — "  All  things 
are  yours  !   Ye  are  Christ's  ! ''   "  Christ 


96  THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 

is  God's  !^'  The  initiative — the  firsi 
o^'ertiire  of  covenant-mercy — was  with 
tlim.  It  was  the  insulted  Sovereign 
who  first  dreamt  of  clemency  towards 
the  rebels — the  injured  Father  who  first 
thought  of  His  ungrateful  children! 
Wondrous  secret! — that  from  all  eter- 
nity the  Heart  of  God  was  to  us  all 
Love  ! 

Think  of  the  Surety  of  the  Covenant ! 
It  was  the  adorable  Son  of  the  Father  ! 
He  voluntarily  closed  with  the  Covenant 
stipulations  :  "  Lo,  I  come !  I  delight  to 
do  Thy  will,  0  my  God  !  "  He  ceased 
not  until,  all  the  terms  being  fulfilled, 
He  could  claim  His  stipulated  reward  : 
"  I  have  glorified  Thee  on  the  earth,  I 
have  finished  the  work  which  Thou 
gavest  3Ie  to  do  !  "  And  still  He  lives, 
and  reigns,  and  intercedes  under  the 
blessed  title  of  "  Mediator  of  the  Ever- 
lasting Covenant ! " 

Think  of  the  Almighty  Dispenser  of 
the  blessings  of  the  Covenant. — It  is 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  97 

the  Spirit  of  all  Grace — the  third  person 
in  the  ever-blessed,  co-equal  Trinity! 
Think  of  the  Heirs  of  the  Covenant. 
Thoy  are  all  who,  by  simple  faith,  are 
willing  to  appropriate  its  inestimable 
blessings !  Think  of  the  Security  of  the 
Covenant.  There  is  nothing  but  con- 
tingency in  other  things — all  is  certainty 
here  :  "  I  will  be  unto  you  a  God,  and 
ye  shall  be  to  me  a  people ! "  Sure ! 
it  has  the  rock  of  Christ's  Deity  to  rest 
upon,  and  a  Triune  God  pledged  to 
make  good  all  its  provisions — "  My 
covenant  will  I  not  break,  nor  alter  the 
word  that  has  gone  out  of  my  mouth !  " 
Think  of  the  Feiyetuity  of  the  Cove- 
nant :  "  I  will  betroth  thee  unto  me  for 
ever  I  ^^  Think  of  the  rich  Inheritance 
of  the  Covenant.  Oh!  here  is  the 
mighty  secret  of  unfathomable  love : 
"If  children,  then  Heirs  —  Heirs  of 
GocV  "  Heirs  of  God !  "—all  within 
the  compass  of  Omnipotence  to  bestow ! 
"  God,"  says  Bishop  Beveridge,  "  thus 
7 


98  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

Speaks,  I  AM  that  I  AM  !  He  puts  Hig 
hand  to  a  blank,  that  His  people  may 
write  imder  it  what  they  please  that  ia 
for  tlieir  good  : — He  simply  saying,  in 
the  general,  'I^J//'" 

My  soul !  art  thou  an  heir  of  God  ? 
Canst  thou  look  upwards  to  the  throne 
of  that  Great  ''  I  Am;'  and  say,  ''My 
God  "  ?  Happier  words — a  more  glori- 
ous assurance — cannot  thrill  on  an  arch- 
angel's tongue !  With  such  a  Portion, 
surely  I  am  independent  of  all  others. 
Let  that  amazing  "  secret "  form  the 
last  thought  of  this  day  ;  and,  as  the 
Almighty  is  even  how  whispering  it  in 
my  ears,  I  may  close  my  eyes,  repeat- 
ing— 


WtLL  BOTU  LAY  MK  DOWN   IN   PB  lOE    AND   8I.EEP  ; 
FOB  THOU,  LOED,  ONLY  MAKEBl   PUJ  DWEIJ. 

IN  SAFETY  I  " 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  9V 


25th  Ni«wi 

"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"Tlie  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  Tower  ;  the  R'shteous 
runneth  into  it,  and  is  safe." — Prov.  xviii.  10. 

.  ^.|  Strong  indeed!  "Salvation 
^'"  ^^^  is  for  walls  and  for  bul- 
Mm\t  ^arks."  Every  attribute  of 
Godhead  is  such  a  tower — every  per- 
fection such  a  Bulwark — all  combined 
to  insure  the  Believer's  everlasting  se- 
curity. 

My  soul !  "  walk  about  Zion,  and  go 
round  about  her  :  tell  the  towers  thereof. 
Mark  well  her  bulwarks,  consider  her 
palaces !"  Mark  the  strong  Tower  of 
Omnipotence/  It  proclaims  that  Al- 
rnightiness  is  on  thy  side — that  there  is 
ONF  ivith  thee  and  for  thee,  boundless 
in  His  resources,  greater  far  than  all  that 
can  be  against  thee ! 

Mark  the  strong  Tower  of  Tlnchange 
ableness !  All  earthly  fabrics  are  tot- 
tering and  crumbling  around  theo — the 


100  THE   NIGHT    WATCHES. 

dearest  of  all  thine  earthly  refuges  has 
written  on  it  the  doom  of  the  dust.  Biit^ 
sheltered  here,  thou  canst  gaze  unawed 
on  all  the  fitful  changes  of  life,  and  ex- 
ult in  an  unchanging  God! 

Mark  the  strong  Tower  of  Wisdom  I 
When  dealings  are  dark,  and  chastise- 
ments mysterious,  dost  thou  know  what 
it  is  to  retire  within  this  fortress,  and  to 
be  reminded  that  all,  all  that  befalls  thee 
is  the  planning,  of  unerring  rectitude 
and  faithfulness  ? — to  see  inscribed  on 
the  chamber-walls,  "The  only  Wise 
God"? 

Mark  the  strong  Tower  of  Love! 
When  the  hurricane  has  been  fierce — 
thy  heart  breaking  with  new  trials— 
the  past  dark — the  future  a  dreary 
waste — no  lull  in  the  storm — no  light 
in  the  clouds — oh !  is  it  no  comfort  to 
thee  to  retire  into  this  most  hallowed  of 
bulwarks,  and  read  the  living  motto — 
emblazoned  on  its  every  turret — "  God 
is  love?" 


THE    NIGHT   WATCHES.  101 

My  soul !  art  thou  safe  in  this  im- 
pregnable fortress  ?  Hast  thou  entered 
within  the  gate?  Remember,  it  is  not 
to  be  "  near  "  the  city,  but  in  it.  Not 
lo  know  about  Christ,  but  to  "win  Him, 
and  be  found  in  Him !"  One  footstep 
witliout,  and  the  Avenger  of  blood  can 
cut  thee  down ! 

"  Turn,  then,  to  the  stronghold  "  as  a 
"prisoner  of  hope !"  Once,  these  were 
colossal  walls  to  exclude.  Now,  they 
are  unassailable  barriers  to  protect — a 
citadel  where  His  saints  are  "  kept "  by 
the  power  of  God.  Every  portal  is 
open  ;  and  the  God  of  Mercy  issues  the 
gracious  proclamation — "  Come,  my  peo- 
ple, enter  into  thy  chambers!" 

How  safe— how  happy  here!  "If 
tliere  be  tossing  and  doubting,  it  is  the 
heaving  of  a  ship  at  anchor — not  the 
clashing  on  the  rocks." — (Evans.)  In 
God  !  "  There  is,  in  this,"  says  Presi- 
dent Edwards,  speaking  of  the  same 
blessed  truth,  "  secured  to  me,  as  it  were. 


102  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

a  calm,  sweet  cast,  or  appearance,  of 
glory  in  almost  everything."  We  can 
hear,  amid  tlie  surges  of  life,  a  voice  high 
above  the  storm — the  Name  of  the  Lord 
—"It  is  //"  "It  is  //"  remailiS 
Bishop  Hall,  "  were  as  much  as  a  hun- 
dred names.  It  is  I !—  I !  your  Lord 
and  Master.  I !  the  Commander  of 
winds  and  waters.  I !  the  Sovereign 
Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth.  //  the 
God  of  Spirits.  Let  Heaven  be  but  as 
one  Scroll,  and  let  it  be  written  all  over 
with  titles — they  cannot  express  more 
than — It  is  I !  Oh  !  sweet  and  season- 
able word  of  a  gracious  Saviour  ! — able 
to  calm  all  tempests — able  to  revive  all 
hearts — say  but  so  to  my  Soul,  and  T 
am  safe!" 


WILL   BOTH   LAY   ME    DOWN    IN    PBACE    AND   SLEEP ; 
rOE   THOU,    LORD,   ONLY    MAKEST   MB   DWBLL 
UN  SAFETY  ;" 


THE   NIGHT    WATCHES.  103 


"I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"  In  Th}'  favour  is  life."— Ps.  xxx.  5. 

^  ^.,  How  anxious  are  we  to  stand 
«^"  ^^  well  with  our  fellow-men,  and 
^UUUl.  ggg^j-e  (j^g{y  favour !  are  we 
equally  so  to  stand  well  witL.  G-od  ? 
The  favour  of  man,  what  is  it  ? — A  pass- 
ing breath,  which  a  moment  may  alien- 
ate, a  look  forfeit,  and  which,  at  best,  a 
few  brief  years  will  forever  terminate. 
But  the  favour  of  God — how  ennobling, 
constant,  and  enduring  !  In  possession 
of  that  favour,  we  are  independent  alike 
of  what  the  world  gives  and  withholds. 
With  it,  we  are  rich,  whatever  else  we 
want.  Without  it,  we  are  poor,  though 
we  have  the  wealth  of  worlds  beside. 
Bereft  of  Him,  we  can  truly  say  with 
aged  Jacob,  I  am  bereaved."  Noth- 
ing can  compensate  for  His  loss,  but 
He  can  compensate  for  the  loss  of  every 
tiling  ! 


104  THE   NIGHT    WATCHES. 

"  Thou  art,  0  God,  the  life  and  light 
Of  all  this  wondrous  world  we  see  ; 
Its  glow  by  day,  its  smile  by  night. 

Are  but  reflections  caught  from  Thee  I 
Where'er  we  turn,  Thy  glories  shine, 
And  all  things  fair  and  bright  are  Thine." 

My  soul !  art  thou  living  a  strangci* 
to  this  favour,  under  the  cheerless  sense 
of  alienation  from  God  ?  Sin  uncan- 
celled— peace  unpurchased — all  uncer- 
tainty about  the  question  of  thine  eter- 
nity ?  Who  need  ask,  living  thus,  if 
thou  art  satisfied,  or  happy  ?  Satisfied  I 
Impossible — nothing  can  satisfy  thine 
infinite  capacities  but  the  infinite  God. 
Nothing  can  fill  up  the  aching  voids  of 
thine  immortal  being  but  Him  "who  only 
hath  immortality."  Happy  I  impossible, 
too.  There  can  be  no  happiness  with 
sin  unforgiven — the  conscience  unap- 
peased — imperishable  interests  hanging 
overhead  unsettled  and  unadjusted — 
death,  and  judgment,  and  eternity,  all 
unprovided  for  !  Living  at  this  "  dying 
rate,"  peace  must  be  a  stranger  to  your 
bosom ! 


THE   NIGHT    WATCHES.  105 

Seek  to  make  up  your  peace  witli  God. 
Covet  His  life-giving  favour.  What  a 
blessed  fountain  of  unsullied  joy  has  that 
80 111  which  can  look  up  to  Heaven  and 
8ay,  "  God  is  mine !"  That  word — that 
thought — wipes  away  every  tear-drop, 
"  My  Father  !"  What  though  the  per- 
ishable streams  be  dried,  if  thou  art 
driven  to  learn  the  truth,  "  All  my  well- 
springs  are  in  Thee  "  ?  He  may  empty 
thy  cistern,  but  the  Fountainhead  re- 
mains. Job  was  the  sorest  of  sufferers, 
but  he  could  bear  patiently  to  be  bereft 
of  ail,  save  One — "Oh  that  I  knew  where 
I  might  find  Him  /"  "Go,"  said  Chry- 
sostum,  exulting  in  this  favour  of  the 
King  of  kings,  when  an  earthly  princess 
tried  to  shake  his  spirit — "  Go,  tell  her 
that  I  fear  nothing  but  sin."  Blessed 
state  of  conscious  security  ! 

"  If  Thou  art  mine,  Eternal  God  I 
Let  fraud  or  malice,  storii;  'V  flood, 

Bear  all  besides  away  ; 
The  soul's  best  treasure  lies  too  deep 
For  spoiler's  arm,  or  fortune's  sweep, 

Or  time's  more  sure  decay  I 


106  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

'  \)cath,that  all  meaner  bliss  destroys, 
Robs  not  the  spirit  of  its  joys  ; 
And  if  his  stroke  can  sever 
The  fleshly  seal,  'tis  but  to  bring 
The  living  waters  from  their  spring, 
And  bid  them  gush  forever." 

The  same  mighty  consohttion  which 
supported  Jesus  in  His  season  of  humil- 
iation, forms  the  solace  and  rejoicing  of 
His  true  people — "  Because  He  is  on 
my  riglit  hand,  I  shall  not  be  moved." 
Blessed  Jesus !  do  Thou  encompass  me 
this  night  with  Thy  favour  as  with  a 
shield,  and  tlien 


1  WILL  BOTU  LAY  MB  DOWN  IN  PEAOB  AND  SLKSP  '. 
POE  THO'J   LORD,  ONLY  MAKE3T  MB  DWELL 
IN  SAJ'BTY  ! 


I" 


THE    NIGHT    WATCHES.  107 


2Tth  Night 

"I  meditata  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"They  shall  be  iniiio,  saith  tho  Lord  of  Hosts,  iu  that  day 
wh*n  I  make  up  my  Jewels." — Mai.  iii.  17. 

^  >,,  "  My  Jewels  ! "  {marg.  My 
m  (Ll;i[  peculiar  treasure.)  Of  what 
.Fiuria.  favoured  created  beings  doea 
Jeliovah  thus  speak  ?  Is  it  of  seraphs  ? 
— of  angels  ?  Mathinks  at  such  a  title 
even  they  would  take  the  dust  of  abase- 
ment, and,  veiling  their  faces,  cry,  "  Un- 
clean !  unclean  !"  But,  marvel  of  mar- 
vels!— It  is  redeemed  sinners  of  the 
earth — the  fallen  children  of  men,  once 
rude,  unshapely  stones,  lying  in  "  the 
horrible  pit  and  the  miry  clay,"  amid 
the  rubbish  of  corruption,  who  are  thus 
sought  out  by  grace,  purchased  by  love, 
destined  through  eternity  to  be  set  as 
jewels  in  the  crow^n  of  the  eternal  God  ! 
"  The  Lord's  portion  is  His  people  !" 
There  is  a  surpassing  revelation  of  love 
here  !  Great,  unspeakably  great,  is  the 
privilege  of  the  Believer,  to  be  able  to 


108  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

look  up  to  the  everlasting  Jehoyah,  and 
say,  "  Tlion  art  my  portion,  0  Lord !" 
But  what  is  this  in  comparison  with  the 
response  of  Omnipotence  to  the  child 
of  dust,  ''Thou  art  Miner 

My  soul !  hast  thou  learnt  to  lisp  thy 
part  in  this  wondrous  interchange  of 
covenant  love,  "  My  beloved  is  mine,  and 
I  am  His"  ?  What  an  array  of  wondrous 
titles  belong  to  the  saints  of  God,  and 
given,  too,  by  God  himself  in  His  own 
Word  !  "  He  calls  them  Sons  as  often  as 
sinners!"  Brethren  !  Princes  !  Friends! 
Heirs!  Jewels!  Portion!  "ilfme"/ 

And  when  is  the  time  when  they  be- 
come thus  dear  to  Him  ?  Sinner  !  when 
thou  didst  weep  at  the  cross  of  Jesus, 
and  joined  thyself  in  covenant  with  God, 
thou  becamest  His  Jetvel  !  Nay,  '"  He 
has  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love !" 
True,  thou  art  not  yet  set  in  His  crown  ; 
thou  art  yet  undergoing  the  process  of 
polishing.  AfQiction  is  preparing  thee  ; 
trial  is  needed  to  remove  ail  the  rough- 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  109 

ness  and  inequalities  of  nature,  and 
make  thee  meet  for  thy  Master's  use. 
But,  blessed  thought !  "He  that  hath 
ivr ought  us  [literally,  chisselled  or  pol- 
isJted  us]  for  the  self  same  thing  is  God  /" 
Yes,  God  himself,  the  possessor,  who 
])rized  that  earthly  jewel  so  mucli  as  to 
give  in  exchange  for  it  Heaven's  "  Pearl 
of  great  price !"  He  has  the  polishing 
in  His  own  hand.  He  will  not  deal  too 
rashly  or  roughly ! 

And  where,  meanwhile,  is  the  casket 
in  which  these  Jewels  are  kept  till  the 
coronation-day  arrives,  when  the  crown 
of  His  Church  triumphant  (every  saint 
a  gem)  will  be  placed  on  the  head  of  Je- 
sus ?  It  is  He,  their  Purchaser,  their 
Proprietor,  who  preserves  them.  They 
are  "  kept  by  the  power  of  God.''  Our 
great  Higli  Priest,  the  true  Aaron,  has 
them  set  in  His  breastplate ;  He  bears 
them  on  His  heart  on  His  every  approach 
to  the  throne.  They  are  the  precious 
stones  set  in  gold  upon  the  ephod,  and 


110  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

tlioagii  the  sins  of  His  people,  and  the 
designs  of  Satan,  combine  in  doing  what 
(hey  can  to  erase  and  destroy  them,  He 
declares  that  none  shall  ever  pluck  theiw 
out  of  His  hand  or  from  His  heart ! 

A  jewel  in  Immanuel's  crown  ! — Not 
only  raised  from  the  dunghill  to  be  set 
among  princes,  but  to  gem  through  eter- 
nity the  forehead  that  for  me  was  once 
wreathed  with  thorns  !  Shall  I — can  1 
— murmur  at  any  way  my  Saviour  sees 
meet  to  polish  and  prepare  me  for  such 
an  honour  as  this  ? 

Let  me  sink  down  on  my  nightly  pil- 
low overpowered  with  the  thought ;  and 
as  I  hear  my  covenant  God  whispering 
in  my  ear  the  astounding  accents,  "  Thon 
art  Mine  /"  I  may  well  reply, 

**\  WTLL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOWN  IN  PEA  OB  AND  8LEBP  ; 
FOB  TUOtr,  LORB,  ONLY  MAKE8T  ME  nWBl.1. 

IN  SAFETY  1" 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  Ill 


23th  NKtiaT, 

"1  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watcnes." 

'  We  must  all  appear  before  the  Judgmuiit-seat  of  Christ !" 
—2  Cor.  V.  10 

.  ^,,  "All!"  There  is  nu 
^l  ^W  eluding  that  searching 
SuiglHBIltS.  serntiny-"  Every  e/e 
shall  see  Him  !"  My  soul !  if  safe  in 
the  covenant,  there  is  to  thee  no  terror 
in  that  coming  reckoning.  The  judicial 
dealing  between  thyself  and  thy  God  is 
already  past.  Thou  art  already  ac- 
quitted. The  moment  thou  didst  cast 
thyself  at  the  cross  of  thy  dear  Lord, 
the  sentence  of  "  Not  Guilty"  was  pro- 
nounced upon  thee;  and  "  it  is  God 
that  justifieth :  who  is  he  that  con- 
demneth  ?"  But  this  sentence  will  bo 
ratified  and  openly  proclaimed  before 
an  assembled  world.  On  that  great 
day  of  disclosures  God  will  avenge  His 
own  elect.  All  the  calumnies  and  asper- 
sions heaped  on  their  character  will  be 
wiped  away.  And  in  presence  of  devils, 


112  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

and  angels,  and  men,  the  approving 
sentence  will  go  forth  from  the  lips  of 
the  Omniscient  One,  "  Enter  ye  into  the 
joy  of  your  Lord." 

And  wlio  is  to  be  thy  Judge  ?  Who 
is  to  be  enthroned  on  that  tribunal  of 
unerring  rectitude,  before  whom  every 
knee  is  to  bow  and  every  heart  is  to  be 
laid  open  ?  "  He  hath  appointed  a  day 
in  the  which  He  will  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness  hy  that  Man  whom  He 
hath  ordained !"  ''That  3fan  r  Oh  ! 
it  is  no  stranger !  It  is  He  who  died 
for  thee  ;  who  is  now  interceding  for 
thee  ;  wlio  will  then  stand  on  that  latter 
day  on  the  earth  to  espouse  thy  cause, 
vindicate  thine  integrity,  and  utter  the 
challenge  to  every  reclaiming  adversa- 
ly?  "  Who  shall  lay  anything  to  the 
charge  of  God's  elect  ?" 

My  soul !  seek  to  know  this  God- 
Man  Mediator  on  a  throne  of  grace,  ere 
you  meet  Him  on  a  throne  of  judgment  I 
Seek  to  have  your  name  now  enrolled 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  113 

ill  this  Book  of  Life,  that  you  may  hear 
it  then  confessed  before  His  "Father 
and  the  holy  angels." 

What  an  incentive  to  increased  aspi- 
rations after  holiness  and  higher  spirit- 
ual attainments,  to  remember  that  the 
awards  of  that  day  and  of  eternity  will 
be  determined  by  tlie  transactions  of 
time!  It  is  a  grand  Bible  principle, 
that,  though  justified  by  faith,  we  shall 
be  judged  by  works.  Nay  more,  while 
from  first  to  last,  Jesus,  and  Jesus  alone, 
is  the  meritorious  cause  of  salvation, 
yet  the  works  flowing  from  faith  in  Him, 
and  love  to  Him  will  regulate  the  degree 
of  future  bliss, — whether  we  shall  be 
among  the  " greatest"  or  "  the  least  in 
the  kingdom  " — whether  we  shall  occupy 
the  outskirts  of  glory,  or  revolve  in  or- 
bits around  the  throne  in  the  blaze  of 
God's  immediate  presence! 

Reader !  were  that  trumpet-blast  now 
to  break  on  thine  ear,  wouldst  thou  bo 
prepared  with  the  welcome  response, 
8 


114  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

"  Even  so,  come  "  ?  Seek  to  be  living 
in  this  habitual  state  of  holy  prepared- 
ness, that  even  the  midnight  cry  would 
not  take  thee  by  surprise ;  that  the 
summons  which  will  prove  so  startling 
10  a  slumbering  world,  would  be  to  thee 
the  herald  of  glory — "  He  cometh.  He 
Cometh  to  judge  the  earth !  " 

•'  Never  again  your  loins  untie, 
Nor  let  your  torches  waste  and  die, 
Till,  when  the  shadows  thickest  fall, 
Ye  hear  your  Master's  midnight  call  I  " 

Oh  the  blessedness  of  being  able,  in 
sweet  confidence  in  the  Saviour's  second 
coming,  to  compose  myself  to  rest  night 
after  night,  and  say,  "  Even  though  the 
trumpet  of  judgment  should  break  upon 
my  ears, 


'1  WILL  BOTH  LAY  MB  DOWN  IN  PEACE  AND  SLEW 
FOB  THOtI,  LOBD,  ONLY  MAKE8T  MK  DWELL 

Df  a.^FKTY  1' " 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  115 


29tu  Night. 
"I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  "Watches." 

"  He  brought  me  to  the  Banqueting-house." — 
Caut.  ii.  4. 

^      <^l%         -allofgrfce!     He 

The  top-stone  is  brought  forth,  the  Ban- 
queting-house is  entered,  with  shoutings, 
saying,  "  Grace,  grace  unto  it !"  My 
soul!  contemplate  the  journey  ended, 
the  course  finished,  the  victory  won ! 
Seated  at  the  supper-table  of  the  Lamb 
in  glory,  guest  talking  to  guest  with 
bounding  hearts,  recounting  their  Lord's 
dealings  on  earth — the  watch-Avord  cir- 
culating from  tongue  to  tongue,  "He 
hath  done  all  things  well !"  Angels 
and  archangels,  too,  will  be  participants 
in  that  banquet  of  glory,  and  bright 
eoraphs,  who  never  knew  what  it  was  to 
have  a  heart  of  sin  or  to  shed  a  tfv^r  of 
sorrow.  But,  for  this  reason,  ther*-  -^ill 
be  one  element  of  joy  peculiar  t      le 


116  THE    NIGHT   WATCHES. 

redeemed,  into  wliicli  the  otlier  imfallen 
guests  cannot  enter — the  ^^joy  of  con- 
trastJ^  How  will  the  present  "  great 
tribulation"  augment  the  bliss  of  a 
world  at  once  sinless  and  sorrowless! 
How  will  earth's  woe-worn  cheek,  and 
sin-stricken  spirit,  and  tear-dimmed  eye, 
enhance  the  glories  of  that  perfect 
state  where  there  is  not  the  type  or  sym- 
bol of  sadness,  not  the  solitary  trace 
of  one  lingering  tear-drop !  Then  will 
be  realized  that  sweet  paradox,  "  They 
rest,"  "  They  rest  not !"  "  The  rest  with- 
02d  a  rest  /"  "  They  re.s-^  /" — the  eternal 
pause  and  cessation  from  all  the  feverish 
disquietudes  of  this  world's  sins  and 
sorrows,  all  that  would  disturb  the  rap- 
ture of  a  holy  repose,  and  yet  the  rest- 
less activity  of  holiness — the  Divine 
energy  of  beings  whose  grand  clement 
of  happiness  is  employment  in  the  ser- 
vice and  executing  the  will  of  God.  In 
this  "  they  cease  not  day  nor  night." 
It  is  sublimely  said  of  the  God  before 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  117 

whom  they  hymn  their  anthems  and  cast 
their  crowns, "  He  inhabiteth  the  praisea 
of  eternity !" 

"  My  soul !  seek  often  to  ponder,  in 
the  midst  of  thy  days  of  sadness,  the 
joys  of  that  eternal  Banqueting-honse. 
"  Ye  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst 
any  more !"  One  moment  at  that  table 
— one  crumb  of  the  heavenly  manna — 
one  draught  from  the  river  of  life,  and 
all  the  bitter  experiences  of  the  valley 
of  tears  will  be  obliterated  and  forgot- 
ten !  Look  upwards  even  now,  and 
behold  thy  dear  Lord  preparing  for  thee 
this  glorious  "  feast  of  fat  things."  "  I 
go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you."  "  I 
will  come  again,  and  receive  you  unto 
myself!"  He  has  Himself  entered  the 
Banqueting-house  as  the  earnest  and 
forerunner  of  the  coming  Guests.  He, 
the  first  Sheaf  of  the  mighty  harvest, 
has  been  waved  before  God  in  the 
temple  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  as  a 
pledge  of  the  immortal  sheaves  still  to 


118  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

be  gathered  into  the  heavenly  garner. 
The  invitation  is  issued,  "  Come,  for  all 
things  are  ready !  the  oxen  and  the  fat- 
lings  are  killed !" — My  soul  I  prepare 
for  the  meeting  ;  suitably  attire  thyself 
for  such  a  glorious  banquet.  Put  on 
thy  beautiful  garments — that  righteous- 
ness of  Jesus,  without  which  thou  canst 
not  be  accepted — that  holiness  of  heart, 
without  which  thou  canst  not  be  an 
acceptable  guest.  Soon  shall  the  little 
hour  of  life's  unquiet  dream  be  over ; 
and  then,  oh  the  glorious  surprise  of 
being  ushered  in  to  that  banqueting 
table — to  know /or  ever  the  blessedness 
of  those  "  who  are  called  unto  the  mar- 
riage-supper of  the  Lamb !" 

With  the  prospect  of  sucJi  joys  await- 
ing me  in  the  morning  of  immortality, 
with  the  dark  night  of  death  before 
me,  and  the  grave  my  couch,  I  shall  be 
able  to  say  even  of  its  lonely  chamber — 


•  I  WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME    POWN   IN  PEACE   AND  SLEEP ;    FOiK 
THOU,    LORD,  ONLY   MAKE81    ME   DWELL   IN  SAFETY  1  " 


THE   NIGHT  WATCHES.  119 


SOl'H  NiOHT. 

"  I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 
"  In  thy  presence  there  is  fulness  of  joy." — Ps.  xvi.  12. 

^     ^,        Even  in  this  world,  where 
m  d^irn      ^Yiere    is    much    of    God, 


how  sweet  to  the  Chris- 
tian is  the  sense  of  His  presence,  and 
friendship,  and  love  !  What  will  it  be 
in  that  world,  where  it  is  all  of  God  ? 
The  foretaste  is  blessed — what  must  be 
the/ruition !  The  rays  of  the  Divine 
glory  are  gladdening — what  must  be 
the  full  blaze  of  that  sun  itself ! 

My  soul !  dost  thou  often  delight  to 
pause  in  thy  journey  ? — does  faith  love 
to  ascend  its  Pisgah-Mount  and  get  a 
prospect  of  this  Land  of  Promise?  What 
is  the  grand  feature  and  element  which 
swallows  up  all  the  circumstantials  m. 
thy  future  bliss  ?  Let  Patriarchs,  Proph- 
ets, and  Apostles  answer — It  is  "  Thy 
Presence."  "  In  my  flesh,  I  shall  see 
GodP-  says   one.      "  [   shall   be  satis- 


120  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

fied,  says  another,  "  "wlien  I  awake,  with 
Thy  likeness."  "They  shall  see  His 
face,"  says  a  third.  Amid  all  the  glow- 
ing visions  of  a  coming  Heaven  vouch- 
safed to  John  in  Patmos,  there  is  One 
all-glorious  object  that  has  ever  a  peer- 
less and  distinctive  pre-eminence — 
Grod  himself.  There  is  no  candle — 
Why  ?  "For  the  Lord  God  giveth  them 
light!"  There  is  no  temple — Why? 
"  For  the  Lord  God  and  the  Lamb  are 
the  temple  thereof!"  The  Saints  dwell 
in  holy  brotherhood  ;  but  what  is  the 
mighty  bond  of  their  union — their 
"  chiefest  joy"  ?— "  He  that  sitteth  on 
th'e  Throne  dwells  among  them !"  They 
have  no  longer  the  intervention  of  ordi- 
nances and  means — Why  ?  Because 
"  the  Lamb  that  is  in  the  midst  of  the 
Throne  shall  feed  them,  and  lead  them 
to  living  fountains  of  waters !"  They 
no  longer  draw  on  the  storehouse  of  the 
Promises — And  wliy  ?  Because  "  God 
himself  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  121 

their  eyes !"  "  No  napkin,"  says  a  holy 
man,  "but  His  own  immediate  hand, 
shall  wipe  my  sinful  face !" 

My  soul !  here  is  the  true  "  PenieV^ 
—where  you  will  "  see  God  face  to 
face !"  Here  is  the  true  "  Malianaim'^ 
— where  "  the  Angels  of  God  meet 
you !"  Here  is  the  true  Communion 
of  Saints — "  The  glorious  fellowship  of 
the  Prophets — the  goodly  fellowship  of 
the  Apostles — the  noble  army  of  Mar- 
tyrs!" Yet  all  these  latter  will  be  sub- 
servient and  subordinate  to  the  first — 
the  vision  and  fruition  of  God  !  Even 
the  recognition  of  the  death-divided 
(tliat  sweet  element  in  the  Believer's 
prospect  of  bliss)  will  pale  in  comparison 
into  a  taper-light  before  this  "  Glory 
that  excolleth !" 

Reader !  art  thou  among  these 
■'  pure  in  heart,"  who  are  to  "  see 
God"  ?  Remember  the  Bible's  solemn 
interdict — "Without  holiness  no  man 
shall   see   the  Lord!"      Remember  its 


122  THE    NIGHT    WATCHES. 

solemn  admonition — "  And  every  man 
that  hatli  this  hope  in  him,  purifieth 
himself  even  as  He  is  pure !"  To  "  see 
God  !"  Oh  !  what  preparation  needed  for 
Bo  august  a  contemplation  !  Infinite  un- 
worthiness  and  nothingness  to  stand  in 
the  presence  of  Infinite  Majesty,  Purity, 
and  Glory ! 

Can  I  wonder  at  the  much  discipline 
required  ere  I  can  be  thus  "  presented 
faultless  before  the  presence  of  His 
glorify  ?  How  will  these  needed  furnace 
fires  be  dimmed  into  nothing  when 
viewed  from  the  Sapphire  throne! 
"  Heart  and  flesh  may  be  fainting  and 
failing ;"  but,  remembering  that  that 
same  God  is  now  "  the  strength  of  my 
heart,"  who  is  to  be  my  "  portion  for 
ever,"  I  may  joyfully  say — 


1  WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOWN  IN  PEACE  AND  SLEEP  ! 
FV)K  THOU,  LORD,  ONLY  MAKKST  ME  DWELL 
IN  SAFETY  1" 


THE   NIGHT    WATCHES.  12B 


Slsr  NiGffi 
"I  meditate  on  Thee  in  the  Night  Watches." 

"  N'ow  is  the  accepted  time  :  behold  !  now  is  the  day  of 
salvation." — 2  Cor.  vi.  2. 

^     ^[  Reader  !  how  stands  it 

OT  W\  with  thee  ?  Is  tue  ques- 
(blasmg  ef^llll  tion  of  thy  eternity  final 
ly  and  for  ever  adjusted  ?  Art  thou  at 
peace  with  God  ?  Canst  thou  say  with 
Paul,  in  the  prospect  of  death,  "  I  am 
now  ready"?  Hast  thou  been  led  to 
feel  the  infinite  peril  of  postponement 
and  procrastination,  and  responded  to 
the  appeal,— "  Behold  !  Now T  Ah! 
how  many  have  found,  when  the  imag 
ined  hour  of  deathbed  preparation  had 
come,  that  the  tear  of  penitence  was  too 
late  to  be  shed,  and  the  prayer  of  mercy 
too  late  to  be  uttered  ! 

Let  there  be  plain  dealing  between 
thy  conscience  and  thy  God.  Seek  not 
to  escape  from  the  pressing  urgency  of 
the  question.     Thou  mayest  dismiss  it 


124  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

now,  but  there  is  a  day  comiug  when 
tliou  durst  not !  Let  it  not  merge  in 
vague  generalities — let  it  be  realized  as 
matter  of  personal  concernment — of  in- 
finite moment  to  tliyself — "  Ami  saved, 
or  am  I  not  saved  ? — am  I  prepared,  or 
am  T  unprepared,  to  meet  my  God  ?" 
Thou  mayest  have,  perhaps,  an  honest 
purpose  of  giving  it  some  future  enter- 
tainment at  another  and  "  more  con- 
venient season."  Do  we  ever  read  of 
Felix's  "  more  "  convenient  season  ?  It 
were  better  not  to  risk  to  the  experiment 
of  a  dying  hour  the  solution  of  the  prob- 
lem— "  Is  it  safe  to  delay  ?"  Take  it 
on  trust,  that  it  is  a  hard  matter — a  con- 
ference about  the  soul  on  the  brink  of 
eternity  !  Remember,  "  God's  Spirit 
will  not  always  strive  !"  All  His  other 
attributes  are  infinite,  but  His  patience 
and  forbearance  have  their  "bounds  and 
limits."  The  invitation  which  is  thine 
to-day  may  be  withdrawn  to-morrow. 
The  axe  mav  be  even  now  laid  at  the 


THE   NIGHT   WATCHES.  125 

root  of  the  tree,  and  the  sentence  on  the 
wing,  "Cut  it  down!" 

How  awful,  if  it  really  be  that  thou 
art  yet  living  in  this  state  of  estrange- 
ment and  guilt !  What  a  surrender  of 
present  peace!  What  a  forfeiture  of 
eternal  joy ! 

Haste  thee  !  flee  for  thy  life,  lest  thou 
be  consumed!  Thy  immortality  is  no 
trifle!  "  The  night  is  far  spent!"  Who 
can  tell  hoiu  far  ?  It  may  be  now  or 
never  with  thee  !  Thou  art  about  once 
more  to  lie  down  on  thy  nightly  pil- 
low. What  if  thy  awaking  to-morrow 
were  to  be  "in  outer  darkness  "  ? 

But,  take  courage — That  night  is  not 
too  far  spent!  Close  this  last  of  the 
"Night  Watches,"  by  fleeing,  without 
delay,  to  Jesus — the  Sinner's  Saviour 
and  the  Sinner's  Friend.  It  was  on  the 
last  watch  of  the  night  He  came  of  old 
to  His  tempest-tossed  disciples.  Like 
them,  receive  Him  now  into  thy  Soul  1 
and  have  all  thy  guilty  fears  calmed  by 


126  THE   NIGHT   WATCHES. 

His  omnipotent  "  Peace,  be  still !"  Are 
there  not  ominous  signs  all  around  as 
if  the  world's  last  and  closing  "  night- 
watch"  had  set  in?  The  billows  are 
heaving  high.  We  hear  the  footsteps 
on  the  waters !  Amid  the  fitful  moan- 
ings  of  the  blast — the  watchword  is 
heard — of  joy  to  some,  of  terror  to 
others — "  Maran-atlia  /"  "  Tlie  Lord  is 
coming !" 

Reader!  art  thou  ready?  Is  the 
joyous  response  on  thy  tongue — "  Come, 
Lord  Jesus  ;  Come  quickly"  ?  If  this 
night  were  indeed  tliy  very  last,  and 
the  thunders  of  judgment  were  to  break 
upon  thee  ere  daybreak — wouldst  thou 
be  able,  in  the  assurance  of  an  eternal 
dawn,  to  say — 

"I  WILL  BOTH  LAY  ME  DOWN   IN  PMACE  AKD  SLEEP; 

FOE  THOU,  LORD,  ONLY  MAKKST  MK  DWKUL 

IN  SAFETV " ? 


Has  Mthtre  (at  t\t 

iat 
pg  (owHlj  in  tljt 

Pa  xxjx.  5. 

(121) 


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1    1012  01250.5832 


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